Exclusive Casemiro interview: Real Madrid memories, Champions League history-maker

Although he left the club back in the summer of 2022, it is clear that Casemiro will forever have a special place in his heart for Real Madrid.

The Brazilian midfielder spent a decade with Madrid before his move to Manchester United, picking up an incredible trophy haul during his time in the Spanish capital. Three LaLiga titles, a Copa del Rey, three Supercopa de España and three FIFA Club World Cups would be an impressive collection for any player. But it is in the Champions League that Casemiro, and the great Madrid teams that he was a part of, really made history.

Casemiro won five Champions League titles during a glittering career with Real Madrid. For context, that is as many as Barcelona have won across the entire 69-year history of the competition.

With Real Madrid preparing for another famous European night at the Bernabéu on Wednesday, Our Real Madrid expert Tomás Roncero spoke to Casemiro about his time in Spain, that incredible European record and his links with Madrid.

The first topic of conversation? We had to get the Brazilian’s thoughts on that remarkable Champions League win over Manchester City last week, another incredible night in Madrid’s rich European history...

Roncero: Did you watch the game at the Etihad, as you live nearby?

Casemiro: “Of course. These are the kinds of games that are exciting to watch for those of us who love football.”

Do you regularly watch Real Madrid’s matches?

“Not all of them, but I watch many. I like to follow them. That said, the games in Spain are played very late. When they’re at night, sometimes I’m already going to bed to rest. But I follow as many as I can, of course.”

City were winning 2-1 at the Etihad, did you expect another comeback?

“It wasn’t a surprise for me. Madrid does that almost all the time, and everyone knows the history of this team and what they’re capable of. Madrid always plays until the end and never gives up. Even when losing 2-1, I knew there was still plenty of the game left to play. And that’s with City and a great coach like Guardiola. But they did it.

“Now, the return will be at the Bernabéu with a great result from the 3-2. But it’s not going to be easy. With Guardiola, they’re strong, but the Bernabéu on those Champions League nights is very special. I wish all the luck in the world to my former teammates, not only because of my rivalry with City, but mostly for Madrid. Hopefully, they’ll make it to the knockout stages.”

You won five Champions League titles at Madrid. What is it about that jersey that gives the team something extra in this competition?

“When you’re inside and then leave the club like I did, you look for the most complete answer to what you’ve experienced. The big key is that Madrid prepares its players. Madrid always has a foundation, which are the values they instil in you. When I arrived, Cristiano [Ronaldo], Sergio Ramos, [Iker] Casillas… were already there. Players who had the club’s identity. Then came Casemiro, [Luka] Modric… And then Vinicius, Fede Valverde, Rodrygo arrived. The foundation and values of the club are set.

“The president himself transmits those values to you. When you get to Madrid, you see it and soak it all in. You know who to follow. When [Jude] Bellingham arrived, he quickly understood the club’s identity. Vinicius took five years to settle in and become the great player he is. Madrid knew how to prepare him, and now he’s a top player worldwide.”

Mbappé also struggled at first.

“Yes, but he’s now settled, and he’s going to score 30 or 40 goals a year. The young guys, like Rodrygo, [Eder] Militao, or Fede—who I admire a lot for how he plays and gives his all—know how to wait for their moment. And it always comes. The adaptation of young players is helped by the veterans explaining how everything works there."

Vinicius, Rodrygo, Valverde, Casemiro… You all started at the Castilla academy.

“Of course. For me, it was a school of learning. Castilla is the youth system, even if you come from outside. We entered through Valdebebas, not the Bernabéu. Being with the young players teaches you to appreciate what can come. It was one of the most beautiful decisions in my life to accept playing for Castilla, even seeing the kids from Real Madrid C. It was a very beautiful time for me.”

Back to Wednesday’s game at the Bernabéu. What about this stadium makes magical nights happen?

“It’s everything. Not just the pitch, it’s also the city. When you come to Madrid, you feel like you’re landing at the best team in the world. And when you put on the jersey for the first time, you know you belong to it. You believe it because you’re seeing your dream come true.“

“The Bernabéu crowd is the most demanding in the world. You can be leading, winning the game, and they’re still telling you to push forward, to go for more, not to pass it back. The key to it all is that Madrid is made to win. I don’t care how it happens - 1-0 or 5-0 - Madrid is about winning. Win, next game. Win, then go for another win. You don’t talk about the last one. They get you used to winning. Madrid is made for that. This club can be summed up in one word: winning.”

Is that why Madrid has 15 Champions League titles, and people are already talking about the 16th?

“Let me tell you something I haven’t shared in any interview until today. After we won the Champions League in Milan against Atleti, the one we won on penalties, we were in the locker room celebrating the club’s 11th title, and Luka Modric came up to us and said, calm and in his peculiar Spanish, “Guys, we need to win two more Champions Leagues now.” We said, “Come on, Luka, we’ve just won two since Lisbon.” He replied, “No, no. With this team, we need to take advantage and make history by winning two more in a row, at least.” And we won the 12th in Cardiff and the 13th in Kiev. Luka knew it.

“At Madrid, you win the Champions, and the next day, they tell you, ‘What about next year?’ You win just the League, and well, no big deal, they’ll say you missed the European Cup. You only win the Cup, and they’ll say the season was a disaster. That’s Madrid, the highest expectations.”

What’s it like to lose a game?

“If Madrid loses a game, even if they’ve just won ten in a row, it’s talked about as a crisis. That’s the key to Madrid’s success. It’s a winning team above all. Only winning matters.”

Do you think that Messi’s golden era at Barça was overshadowed by those four Champions League triumphs in five years?

“It’s hard to say. Messi has been one of the best players in history, but we had another one, Cristiano Ronaldo. What both of them did is unforgettable. In my generation, the best were Cristiano, Messi… and I’d add Neymar slightly behind them. I’d put him in the podium. But what Cristiano did for football and how he changed it is enormous.

“Just like Guardiola changed football with tiki-taka, these two changed it as well. 50 goals per season, and it seemed normal. Those two players will remain in the memory forever. But we won those Champions Leagues with Zinedine Zidane, who also marked an era.”

Of course, three Champions Leagues in a row!

“What a team we had. Cristiano, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, [Raphael] Varane, [Dani] Carvajal, Toni [Kroos], Luka, Karim [Benzema], who later became Ballon d’Or winner. And [Gareth] Bale, Isco when he played… It was a team of men that inspired a lot of respect from rivals. That’s why we wrote history, and that history remains."

With Manchester United, you’ve won titles and were ranked the second most valuable player on the team last year. And this isn’t the United from 20 years ago that used to win trophies every season?

“No, it’s not. But it’s still a big club. It’s going through a transition, like every team does at certain points in their history. When I arrived, I saw the passion of the fans, and that was something that touched me deeply. We might not be in the same period of dominance as in previous decades, but Manchester United has always been a team that fights and stands for something. It’s a big challenge, and we’ll keep fighting for trophies, just like we did last season.”

Is there a difference in mentality between playing for Real Madrid and Manchester United?

“Of course, there’s a difference. Real Madrid has a very strong winning mentality ingrained in its history. The culture is all about achieving greatness, about being the best. Manchester United also has a rich history and incredible fans, but Real Madrid is built to win Champions League titles consistently. At United, there’s an undeniable drive, but it takes a bit more time to return to that level of European dominance. It’s about adapting and growing to reach those heights once again. However, the commitment and professionalism are the same.”

You played in one of the most iconic teams, usually alongside Kroos and Modrić. Do you miss playing in that midfield?

“Absolutely. That period was special, and it still gives me chills when I think back to it. We had an incredible understanding on the field. We didn’t need to speak much; we just knew what each other was going to do. We created a great balance. It was a pleasure to play alongside Luka and Toni. They have an extraordinary level of quality, and we formed a midfield that was so effective.”

Are you proud of those successes with Madrid?

“Of course, it was a very proud moment for all of us. Those three Champions League victories will go down in history. We had a fantastic team with world-class players. The foundation of the team was built on incredible talent and a deep belief in our ability to win. What we achieved during that period was extraordinary.”

Do you think Real Madrid will continue to dominate in the Champions League?

“Real Madrid will always be a contender in the Champions League. It’s in the club’s DNA. They might not always win every year, but they are always a team that can go all the way. The spirit of the team, the mentality of the players, and the atmosphere at the Bernabéu are all factors that make this club unique. As long as that continues, Real Madrid will always have a chance to lift the Champions League again.

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