Manchester United bosses are reportedly preparing for a decisive summer over Casemiro’s future, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealing a strategic shift in the club’s view of the Brazilian veteran.
The 33-year-old midfielder, who was once on the verge of leaving the club, made a remarkable comeback during the 2025/26 season and became a key part of manager Ruben Amorim’s tactical structure.
However, despite his resurgence on the pitch, Romano suggests that Casemiro’s long-term future at Old Trafford is in jeopardy due to the club’s evolving salary structure under INEOS.
Fabrizio Romano updates on Casemiro
Romano says Manchester United are adopting a similar strategy to Harry Maguire with Casemiro, whose current contract expires in the summer of 2026.
Although the club recognizes his important status, the financial realities of his current contract are an obstacle to a new ownership model.
Romano explained the delicate situation on his YouTube channel:
“My understanding, everyone, is that Casemiro’s situation is very similar to Harry Maguire in terms of strategy.
“Casemiro and Maguire are out of contract in the summer of 2026 and they are really important players for Manchester United.
“I have to congratulate Casemiro in this video, especially now Casemiro, because he was able to change things at Manchester United.
“If you think about Casemiro a year ago or a little bit more, there was a feeling: ‘Okay, we have to find a solution, the salary is too high, the player’s performance is not good, we have to part ways.’
“He wasn’t a big player or an important player for United, but Casemiro has always been a legend of the game. He’s a guy who made history at Real Madrid and made history with the Brazilian national team.”
“So, being a great midfielder, he was able to turn things around and become a starter, an important player on and off the pitch, and an absolute leader.”
Romano also said that without a compromise, the possibility of withdrawal is very real.
He added: “So now it’s clear that United want Casemiro to continue, but the conditions are different.
“The wages he has now are wages that Manchester United don’t want to pay in the future. It’s not because of Casemiro or Maguire, it’s because they want to change the salary structure.”
“So the only way for Casemiro to stay at the moment would be to end up with another contract, another salary. Otherwise, next summer he might be free to go wherever he wants. There was always a lot of interest in him, especially from Saudi Arabia.”
“So obviously a lot of clubs will be interested in Casemiro after his recent good performances. But that’s the situation with Casemiro at the moment. Nothing is guaranteed in terms of a new contract because of his salary.”
“They need to find a solution with the club and the player on the salary structure. They must try to find common ground in this respect. Otherwise Casemiro will leave Manchester United in the summer of 2026.”
Casemiro improves under Ruben Amorim
The fact that Manchester United are even considering extending his contract marks a remarkable turnaround for the five-time Champions League winner.
Just over a year ago, Casemiro appeared to be on the decline, struggling with the pace of the Premier League and facing intense criticism.
However, the arrival of Ruben Amorim seems to have reinvigorated the Brazilian.
This season, Casemiro has re-established himself as an “absolute leader” and established himself as an undeniable presence in the center of midfield.
His reading of the game was crucial to Amorim’s system and he scored important goals, especially from set-pieces, while defending the backline.
Data from this season supports this story, with United’s defensive stats improving significantly when Casemiro is on the pitch.
Amorim himself has praised the midfielder, praising his ability to adapt to new tactical demands at this stage of his career.
The ball is likely to be in Casemiro’s court as the summer approaches. Either accept a pay cut and stay at Old Trafford, or seek one last big paycheck. Saudi Arabia’s interest reportedly remains strong.
