Casemiro has started all but one of Manchester United’s Premier League matches this season and has been a key player for Ruben Amorim after overcoming his struggles
Rio Ferdinand has emphasised how remarkable Casemiro‘s reaction was to finding himself as the last-choice midfielder at Manchester United.
Casemiro has now featured from the start in all but one of their Premier League fixtures this season when fit. The Manchester derby represented the sole omission.
When questioned about the Brazil international following Saturday’s 4-2 triumph over Brighton and Hove Albion, Ruben Amorim admitted the Brazilian was recently behind every player in his position, saying: “I think he gives a lot of experience. He’s an example for everyone.
“In the beginning, he was behind every midfielder, even Toby [Collyer], but he fought and he worked, and now he’s back in the national team. He’s so important for us.”
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The 33-year-old proved pivotal at the weekend as he found the net and provided an assist in the victory over Brighton, who had established themselves as something of a troublesome opponent for United in recent seasons. Ferdinand has now reacted to Amorim’s remarks, acknowledging that Casemiro would have felt ’embarrassed’ by his position within the squad last season.
Nevertheless, the former United captain showered the Brazilian with acclaim for displaying the resolve to respond this season. He commented on Rio Ferdinand Presents: “That could have absolutely humiliated him, and it would have. Football players are intelligent in a football environment.
“They all smell where they are in the pecking order. So, if Amorim’s telling you that, every player in that squad would have known that Casemiro is at the back of their pack, while Toby’s being called upon before him.
“Do you know how embarrassing that would have been for Casemiro? But for him to roll his sleeves up and say: ‘ain’t happening, you all know I’m better than him, you all know I’m the best holding midfielder at the club. Watch this space.'”.
“Toby Collyer’s at West Brom now. That’s no disrespect; I think he’s a really good young player with a bright future.
“I’m just talking about the element of Casemiro having that grit and determination to roll his sleeves up and say, ‘No, you’re not going to embarrass me, you’re not going to roll me out of this club like that, after what I’ve done. Let’s go.'”
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Ferdinand also revisited Jamie Carragher‘s comments about the midfielder from last season. The United legend criticised Carragher last year for his ‘disrespectful’ remarks about Casemiro and once again voiced his disapproval on Monday.
“Recently, he’s looked like the old Casemiro, and it takes me back to what was said by Jamie Carragher about ‘leave the football before the football leaves you,'” he remembered.
“I said at the time I thought it was highly disrespectful when you’re talking about a five-time Champions League winner who’s going through, maybe just a change in their approach to football, going through a time where he looked out of sorts. Players lose confidence; they lose form.
“Sometimes, players’ legs go. But I think the call was too early, and I thought it was highly disrespectful for someone who has achieved so much in this game.”
2025-10-27 20:03:57
