Casemiro left to ponder Manchester United offer

With a fortnight left of the summer transfer window, attentions have turned to Casemiro. Manchester United have suffered a dire start to the new Premier League season with two consecutive defeats leaving them bottom of the table and the club is desperate to strengthen their midfield before the market closes. United need a big transfer to reconcile with a disgruntled Old Trafford, with fans on the verge of revolting against the team and the club owners of the club for the disastrous sports management they have carried out in recent years. For that reason, Ten Hag has made a move and has asked his office bosses to go all out to sign Casemiro. The Real Madrid player, MVP of the recent UEFA Super Cup and a first choice in Ancelotti’s XI, is currently the most qualified defensive midfielder in the world. So it was little wonder that Madrid extended and renewed his contract until 2025 last year as a deterrent to any potential suitors. As well as a significant pay rise, the club also added a shield clause of 1 billion euros, which is a polite, written way of saying “not for sale”.

Five-year deal

The problem, as AS has learned, is that United have offered the Brazilian a dream five-year contract. Casemiro, who turned 30 back in February, is torn between his commitment to the club he loves - as he has amply demonstrated on several occasions, or securing a galactic contract which would tide him over until he retires. Ancelotti has spoken with the player and hopes to convince him to assert his feelings on the financial side of the matter. Carlo considers Casemiro as an essential part of his project, given that Tchouameni is a bet for the medium-term future. As we saw in Almería last weekend the Frenchman is very young and needs time to be able to offer the same benefits that Case has always given since he settled in the first team in the summer of 2015. The situation must be resolved soon because, in the unlikely event that Casemiro accepts United’s proposal (The Telegraph are reporting they hope to entice Madrid with an offer of 60 million euros), Madrid would have to enter the market again. The club’s position right now is clear “not for sale”, so the ball is completely in the player’s court.