According to The Athletic, although the
Manchester United Football Club
Midfielder Casemiro is expected to remain with the team in the new season, but United are still looking for a new number six to bolster the midfield.
A few months ago, Casemiro's future seemed full of uncertainty. He had been in off-season talks with clubs in the Saudi League, one of the few destinations that could afford to pay him a hefty salary, and it was widely expected at the time that he might move elsewhere. However, those talks eventually cooled off.
For now, Casemiro is expected to continue playing for Manchester United. He captained the team and played the full 90 minutes in the pre-season match against Liverpool, showing how important he is in the team. However, his performance also showed why United still need a new No. 6.
In terms of possession, Casemiro's short passes in the midfield were inconsistent, and on two occasions shortly after the start of the second half, he passed the ball directly to Liverpool players. This inconsistent passing put United's possession in the midfield into question.
While Casemiro did make a positive contribution on the attacking end, with his crosses to both Mount and Rashford forming assists and testing Liverpool goalkeepers Kelleher and Jarosz, his performance on the defensive end fell short of expectations. For Liverpool's first goal, Casemiro was breached too easily as he tried to block Fabio Carvalho but was turned the other way by his opponent to finish off a shot from the side. It was similar to the way he was often yellow-carded for lunging at Manchester United.
United's management recognizes that while Casemiro still has an important role to play in the team, the team needs to add a solid defensive player in the midfield to improve overall strength and competitiveness.
