Casemiro has been heroic for Man United in the Europa League knockout stage but his future remains uncertain.
Casemiro was an unused substitute at Brentford
Casemiro’s future at Manchester United could be decided by the club’s possible triumph in the Europa League.
Should United, 3-0 up from their semi-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao, progress to the final and beat Tottenham Hotspur or Bodo/Glimt then they would also qualify for the Champions League next season.
The return of Champions League football would increase United players’ salaries by 25%. Casemiro’s salary would rise back up to £300,000-a-week.
United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe named Casemiro as one of five players who are “overpaid” or “not good enough” and the club are in the process of making up to 200 more staff members redundant.
Casemiro, 33, has one year left on his contract and has outlined his wish to stay at United for a fourth year. United head coach Ruben Amorim indicated recently that Casemiro had changed his mind amid his influence in the Europa League knockout stage.
However, United have sought potential bidders for Casemiro over the past 12 months and they would require £15million to sell him and avoid a loss under the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules. Interest from Saudi Pro League clubs last year came to nought.
United want to bolster their midfield, an area where they are short of specialists. Manuel Ugarte joined from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer but it is unclear what long-term plans Amorim has for Kobbie Mainoo and Toby Collyer has missed 29 matches through injury this season. Christian Eriksen will be released.
If United do not have any European football next season then they would also require a slimmer squad. United could play as few as 40 games in 2025-26 if they are not in the Champions League.
Ratcliffe would be loath to retaining the United squad’s oldest outfield player and one of their highest earners when Casemiro has started only 16 Premier League matches this term.
Casemiro has started in all five of United’s ties and scored the opening goal in the 3-0 victory at Athletic last week. He joined United from Real Madrid for £60m, rising to £70m.
—
Here at the Manchester Evening News, we’re dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.
And finally, if you’d rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast, featuring The Samuel Luckhurst Show and The Midweek Debate. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.