Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is in his richest form since arriving at Old Trafford in 2022 for a fee worth £70m. So why are the clubs letting him leave now?

The Brazilian veteran, who turns 34 later this month, reflects on the past years Manchester United record another dramatic win over Fulham on SundayHe scored with a header in the opening game and then set up Matheus Cunha with a brilliant no-look pass.

sky sports’ Jamie Carragher Calling him a “completely different player”, Paul Merson praised the impact he had made alongside Coby Manu and Bruno Fernandes in the recent resurgence under Michael Carrick.

Casemiro started all three games under Carrick but officially announced his departure last month while Ruben Amorim was still in charge. United did have the option to extend the contract by 12 months but decided to allow Casemiro to leave due to plans for a midfield overhaul in the summer.

sky sports news Rob Dorsett explained the club’s stance following calls from fans for the decision to be reversed.

‘Short-term approach has got clubs into trouble’

“Manchester United are determined not to take a short-term approach when it comes to recruitment and coaching. That’s why they have struggled in the past. This has resulted in many big-name players on high wages not being included in the plans.”

“Casemiro is flying now. He was man of the match against Fulham. I can understand why a lot of fans would say: ‘We’re trying to find a midfielder but are we willing to let Casemiro leave?’

“He turns 34 later this month and is one of the highest earners at the club, earning £325,000 a week, and United know that won’t last forever. He’s playing hard now but they have to have a longer-term plan.

“Casemiro is leaving in the summer, they have made a big farewell video and there is no turning back.”

Was it the right decision to let Casemiro leave?

sky sports’ Paul Merson:

“I think so. He’s done a great job, playing with Kobe Minor and Bruno Fernandez, making an impact.”

“He has to move on. He’s 34 and before you know it, he’s 35. He’s been a top player; he’s had a lot of persistence that’s not worth it because if Fernandes gets forward he doesn’t have the quality to make his presence felt in midfield.”

“Mainu helped a lot with that – Michael Carrick’s common sense. But we’re talking about United’s future and they were right to do what they’re doing and let him go.”

Manchester United’s window-by-window attack: Midfield is next

sky sports news Rob Dorsett:

“Manchester United believe they will focus most of their spending on midfield in the summer.

“Carlos Baleba Brighton are on their list, Elliot Anderson In Nottingham Forest they like Adam Wharton, and Joao Gomez At Wolves, so there are plenty of options. They might even do two.

“They are prioritizing all areas of the squad window by window. It’s a very data-driven approach. Last summer the priority was to score more goals, which is why they invested £280m in three forwards.

“Now they want to address the next imbalance and will address the midfield issue. My impression is that Anderson is the first choice but we are talking about over £100m.”

What do the statistics say?

sky sports’ Laura Hunter:

The logic here is obvious. Casemiro is an aging midfielder whose stamina has been questioned several times over the past 18 months. Perhaps part of the blame lies with former head coach Ruben Amorim, as it was clear to most that Casemiro no longer had the ability to be the heart of the engine room. The rebalancing with Kobbie Mainoo proved invaluable.

Clearly, he still has a lot to offer United between now and the end of the season. Maybe beyond. But time is not on his side and the club will have to restructure their wage bill if they want to chase top targets in the summer.

Still, Casemiro’s value is highlighted by his numbers. He has scored as many goals in the Premier League this season as Fernandes (five) and equal to Benjamin Cescó. His aerial prowess makes him a huge threat from set pieces, including four goals with a header.

Defensively, he made the most tackles of any United player (52) and won the second most possessions in midfield (51), behind Fernandes. His number of duels won (107) can only be surpassed by Patrick Dorgu. His ability with the ball is undeniable.

The recent upturn will ensure he gets a grand send-off in May. But before that happens, he has proven a resourceful and reliable asset that Carrick can draw upon.