Casemiro is no longer a Manchester United player, but some might consider that good news considering the cult Old Trafford hero endured a disastrous World Cup with Brazil.
The 34-year-old, who was sent off at half-time in the opening group game against Morocco, looked sluggish in the American heat and typical of a team struggling under manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Against Japan, for example, the veteran midfielder burst on after the break to equalize, but was responsible for the opponent’s first goal, receiving an early yellow card following a typically reckless challenge in an early exchange.
He served his time under manager Michael Carrick in 2026, but it was the right decision to step down loudly, even as cries of “One more year, Casemiro” echoed around the Theater of Dreams.
Whatever his performances in recent weeks, the former Real Madrid man will still leave a big hole to fill this summer.
Vibel guides Manchester United in £50m bid to replace Casemiro
Preseason is just around the corner, but no new contracts have been made, and even the news of Ederson’s announcement is getting a bit old these days.
There are also claims that United officials have made moves to sign Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchoameny, but nothing concrete has been revealed yet.
INEOS are clearly prioritizing Premier League-ready options, as shown by the signings of Elliott Anderson and Matheus Fernandes, which is why Chelsea’s Andrej Santos is now firmly on the shortlist.
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According to Fabrizio Romano on his YouTube channel, interest in Santos appears to be led by Christopher Vibel following his previous work at Stamford Bridge.
“Regarding Andrei Santos, there was contact with the player’s agent, but this is not the first contact as it started a long time ago in February or March.
“Man United have met twice with Giuliano Bertoi, the Brazilian agent who represents Andrei Santos. So there has been good feedback between Man United and Andrei Santos.”
“He has potential. Christopher Wivel, who was at Chelsea and then joined the Manchester United management team, is also a familiar name.
“So he’s definitely one of the names on the list. At the moment, Chelsea haven’t received an offer from Manchester United yet, but he’s one of the names on Manchester United’s list.”
This follows claims that United are exploring the possibility of signing the young Brazilian, with a transfer fee of around £50m being mooted.
Manchester United could sign ‘a mix of Guimarães and Casemiro’
It feels like the end of an era for Brazil, and with Neymar’s early exit from this summer’s World Cup already set in stone, it would be no surprise if Casemiro takes time to focus on his international career.
That could open the door for Santos to move forward with Ancelotti’s plans permanently. The former Vasco de Gama is the type of player who could bring a breath of fresh air to the South American giants and could do the same at United.
Santos has already received notable praise in recent years, with Brazilian football expert Filippo Silva comparing him to his two famous compatriots, suggesting that he “may be a bit of a mix of Bruno Guimaraes and Casemiro.”
Guimarães, who was reported to be a target for Arsenal, missed the decisive penalty in Brazil’s defeat to Norway, but it was a reliable tournament for the Newcastle United captain as he averaged two key passes and provided four assists per game.
The 28-year-old is a forward-looking No. 8 who is ready for any action, while Casemiro is the best No. 6 and a ball-winning force. In Santos’ case, he seems to have the best of both worlds.
Manchester United top scorer – PL 25/26 | |
|---|---|
player | the goal |
Mbeumo | 11 |
Sesco | 11 |
Cunha | 10 |
Fernandes | 9 |
Casemiro | 9 |
i go to sleep | 4 |
mount | 3 |
Amado | 2 |
jirkzee | 2 |
Indeed, he is yet to secure a regular place at Stamford Bridge, but his past work while on loan at Strasbourg provides plenty of reason to be encouraged.
For example, in the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season, Santos scored 13 goals and provided an assist for France, while also creating eight “big chances” from his box-to-box role.
He shares that attacking intent with Guimarães, and that season in France also highlighted Casemiro-like traits in the youngster’s defensive side, averaging 4.4 tackles and interceptions per game.
For comparison, in 2022/23, Casemiro’s first season of prominence at United, the £70m man averaged 4.4 points per game in that regard in the Premier League as well.
Santos may not be a glamorous or well-known name, but his talent both in and out of possession is to be admired, and it would be no surprise to see Vibel chasing his signature again.
Even if the signing comes from a left-wing source, this could be the replacement for Casemiro that United have been looking for.
