Manchester United’s heavy defeat to Manchester City last weekend may have provided manager Erik ten Hag with ‘the perfect excuse’ to integrate Casemiro into his side.
That’s according to Marca today, who cover the Brazilian’s absence from the team so far and whether that’s about to change.
Casemiro arrived at Manchester United in a €70.65m deal from Real Madrid in the summer, with United spending big to secure the true defensive midfielder they’ve longed required.
The 30-year-old is yet to become the regular many predicted he would be, though, with just six appearances and 216 minutes of action so far.
He is yet to start a game in the Premier League, having only been handed two 10- and 31-minutes cameos so far.
Marca cover the situation today, stating that the question remains whether he was a signing Ten Hag asked for or just an ‘office decision’.
They explain that at first it was thought Casemiro needed time to acclimatise but that looks less like a fair argument as Antony, who arrived after him, has been starting and playing more minutes than him.
The issue has now ‘come to a head’ because of the defeat to Manchester City, which ‘could open the door’ to Casemiro earning a starting place.
That would be the ‘normal scenario’ for a player of his quality, his credentials and for what he cost to sign from Real Madrid.
That ‘first big disappointment’ after the Brazilian’s arrival means Ten Hag ‘may have the perfect excuse’ to change things up against Everton at the weekend.
If that doesn’t happen, then there will be a case for looking deeply into what is actually happening for Casemiro at Manchester United.
