Casemiro will walk the streets of Old Trafford for the final time as a Manchester United player on Sunday afternoon, marking the end of one journey and the beginning of another.
By all appearances, Michael Carrick’s permanent appointment is on the horizon, and the Briton has deftly executed his interim appointment and is ready to look ahead to another challenge.
While Carrick’s chapter in the United dugout has only just begun, Casemiro’s wild ride will hopefully be a fitting farewell, with the £70m Brazilian deserving of a fine send-off after four memorable years in Manchester.
Casemiro vs Carrick – Final match of the PL season** | ||
|---|---|---|
Casemiro (25/26) | Statistics (*per game) | Carrick (16/17) |
33 | game | twenty three |
32 | begins | 18 |
9 | the goal | 0 |
2 | assist | 0 |
4 | A big opportunity has arisen | 0 |
1.0 | Key pass* | 0.5 |
81% | Pass accuracy* | 89% |
2.7 | Tackle* | 1.1 |
0.9 | Intercept* | 1.8 |
11.0 | Ball lost* | 3.9 |
**Full PL season – Carrick played 2 games in 17/18 | ||
He hasn’t always been perfect, but the 34-year-old will need a replacement this summer, as last week’s draw at Sunderland showed his absence.
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Casemiro’s dream replacement could actually be on the pitch on Sunday, with the Red Devils set to take on Nottingham Forest and Elliott Anderson in their penultimate Premier League game of the season.
Despite being linked with a move to Manchester City, recent reports suggest Anderson may actually favor a move to Old Trafford, and we are likely to hear some words from United players this weekend.
He’s not alone, but the 23-year-old is clearly the biggest target, with reports in Italy providing the latest information on former Newcastle United team-mate Sandro Tonali.
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According to reports in Italy, INEOS are prepared to make a “very high offer” for the Italy international, with Newcastle said to be putting him on the market for the summer.
No exact figure was given on the potential bid, but reports suggest the Magpies are seeking a fee of at least €100m (£87m).
Former AC Milan forward Tonali joins St James’ Park in 2023 in a deal worth £55m.
Why Tonali could actually be an upgrade to Casemiro
This was also the week in which Jamie Carragher was forced to eat poor pie after criticizing Casemiro, defying hopes that the South American would emerge as a real driving force at United once again.
2 years since then that The veteran midfielder was at his best that night at Selhurst Park, having scored nine league goals so far this season, in what will be the best return of his storied career at elite level.
He has received praise, and rightly so, but there are still problems with United’s midfield unit, with a nagging feeling that they are often forced through the middle, whether it was in the first half against Brentford or the second half against Liverpool.
Casemiro, in particular, is dribbled through 1.4 times per game and actually makes four mistakes that lead to shots. For comparison, Declan Rice, who is in contention for the Premier League Player of the Year award, only dribbles through the ball 0.4 times per game and only makes one error that leads to a goal.
Casemiro’s athleticism is an issue despite his impressive goalscoring, which is why Tonali represents an upgrade, a player that club legend Paul Scholes even hailed as “better than Rice” earlier in the season.
Dribbling just 0.7 times above his own, Tonali is a throwback to the old-school all-action, midfielder, appearing here and there, appearing everywhere, with his impressive speed and power.
Although it hasn’t been the season that either he or Newcastle had hoped for, the 26-year-old has outperformed Casemiro in terms of ‘big chances’ created (6 to 4) and passing accuracy (84% to 81%), highlighting his superior ability in possession.
Similarly, even in a difficult year, he still only makes one mistake that leads to a shot and averages only 0.7 fouls per game, which is half of the fouls Casemiro has forced this season.
He also outperforms the former Real Madrid hero in terms of both total wins (54% vs 53%) and ground duels won (55% vs 54%), and his special athleticism is reflected in the fact that Tonali himself averages 1.2 fouls per game, making him a difficult man to contain when he’s at full flow.
The £87m powerhouse, who at one stage was named the best midfielder in the Premier League by Scholes, appears to be in need of a fresh start as Newcastle endure something of a general decline under manager Eddie Howe.
As has become clear, Casemiro will not be easy to replace due to his influence, but if United are looking for a midfield machine like Rice, Tonali may be the best solution.
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