18 September 2023 , 08:56
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Gabby Agbonlahor says that Manchester United midfielder Casemiro 'looked like a 45-year-old' during the Red Devils' embarrassing 3-1 defeat at home to Brighton.
Casemiro, who turned 31 in February, was part of a United side who were overrun by Roberto De Zerbi's team, as the Seagulls dominated proceedings at Old Trafford. Red Devils legend Gary Neville warned his former club last season that for a fee of £70million, the Brazilian wasn't a "smart signing," despite arguably being United's player of the year during his maiden campaign.
"Casemiro, there's no doubt - we all said it by the way - £60m? £70m? And £20m-a-year [contract] for five years is a £170m investment," Neville explained on The Overlap back in March. "That is a massive investment. It's not a smart or shrewd signing when you look at it from a [big picture] point of view. None of us thought that."
Neville's suggestion that Casemiro would soon drop off due to his age rang true when Brighton came to town, having also failed to impress during the Red Devils' other four Premier League games this term. Following his latest slumping performance to leave United in the bottom half, ex-Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor tore into the former Real Madrid star.
"Casemiro.... Casemiro looked like he was 45 running around that midfield," Agbonlahor claimed. "He had to bring him off on the 65th minute for Hannibal, a young lad, because he was that bad."
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The player-turned-pundit went on to say: "Brighton had 659 passes at Old Trafford. More shots on target, more possession - 57 per cent. It was a stroll in the park for Brighton.
Casemiro didn't even complete the full 90 minutes against Brighton (Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)Have your say! Should Erik ten Hag drop Casemiro? Let us know your stance in the comments section.
"I am watching the game, at no time did Brighton ever feel like they couldn't pass it out from the back. No matter who was pressing, they found it so easy to get through and create chances. That was like a training ground game, especially the second half."
But it wasn't just Casemiro who Agbonlahor brutally slammed. "You know what else wound me up? Let's see the same energy for Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof," the ex-England international declared. "Martinez for the [Pascal] Gross goal, he has tried to make a block, he's got fake-shot by Gross and scored in the back of the net.
"If that was Harry Maguire, you would not hear the end of it, 'he's terrible get him out the side'. Harry Maguire must be looking around that changing room now thinking, 'how am I not getting a chance in this team?'
"Martinez could not even play from the back, giving the ball away, Lindelof as well. Harry Maguire deserves to be in that team. So let's see the same energy, all you tweeters, whoever you are, let's see the same energy for Martinez at the back, for Casemiro, who can't get around the pitch, not just pick on Harry Maguire."