14 April 2023 , 09:09
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Casemiro plans to retire at Manchester United despite calls from his former Real Madrid teammate Danilo to join him at Juventus.
Casemiro joined United in a £70million deal last summer to end a trophy-laden nine years at Real Madrid – where he won five Champions League crowns at the base of a midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. The trio formed a formidable partnership that largely dominated Europe.
The Brazilian’s arrival has helped transform Erik ten Hag’s team this season. He has added balance, control and structure to a team that desperately needed such attributes. He is likely to be a contender for the Player of the Year award in the Premier League.
Casemiro has proven to be a catalyst in United's upturn in form this season – ending their six-year drought without a major trophy as they won the EFL Cup earlier this season. They are also into the FA Cup semi-finals, the last eight of the Europa League and are in the top four of the Premier League.
The midfield star returned to action for United after a four-game domestic suspension in Thursday’s 2-2 draw against Sevilla and his form is likely to prove crucial to the team’s ambitions of winning a cup treble this campaign.
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Such is Casemiro’s quality and influence, Juventus defender and Brazil international Danilo has explained that he would love to have his former teammate at Real Madrid with him in Turin.
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“The perception of Brazilian footballers has changed and so where there was once a clash with Juve, all of these players could come here and be in the team for years,” Danilo said, as per the Express. “I’d love to have Casemiro. He’d be at home here.”
However, United fans can rest assured that Casemiro has plans to stick with the club in the long-term. Having signed a lengthy contract last summer, at this stage of his career, the midfielder only has plans to win more trophies at Old Trafford.
Oscar Ribot, whose Best of You agency acts on behalf of Casemiro, said of the midfielder’s future, in quotes carried by The Guardian: “Case[miro] has signed for four years plus one. He’s come to win titles; this month has been hard, but there’s nothing else on his mind.”
Ribot added, of Casemiro’s likelihood of staying in football after his retirement from playing: “He says he won’t be a coach, but he will. He’s already one in a footballer’s body. This month, he’s watched everything, calculating the points needed and the days left.”