16 February 2023 , 00:00
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Luke Shaw has underlined the importance of Casemiro to Manchester United as the midfielder returns to the starting line-up for Thursday’s trip to Barcelona.
The Brazilian international star has been suspended for the last two United games in the Premier League following his straight red card against Crystal Palace. He will also sit out this weekend’s home clash against Leicester in the final game of his ban.
However, this has allowed the midfielder to rest and he will be restored to the starting line-up for United’s trip to the Camp Nou on Thursday. With the absences of Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen and Marcel Sabitzer, Casemiro’s return is a most welcome one.
Casemiro has been a revelation since joining United from Real Madrid in the summer as he helped transform the team into a side challenging on four fronts for trophies, and within five points of the summit of the Premier League table.
Shaw told his press conference on Wednesday of his teammate: "I think it's obvious to see how important he is to the team. For us as defenders, it gives us a feeling of security. He loves to win the ball back and tackle.
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"We joke he likes to give the ball away so he can win it back. I'm very happy to have him back tomorrow night because he's been a big miss for us."
Casemiro will return to Man Utd's XI at the Camp Nou (Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)Have Your Say! Can Casemiro inspire United to beat Barcelona? Tell us what you think here.
It is not only Shaw’s club teammates who are full of praise for Casemiro but his international colleagues too. He will line-up against Brazil teammate Raphinha, who joined the Catalan club from Leeds United last summer.
“Man, Casemiro is a player that I always talk about to my friends, my relatives, Casemiro is a player that I’d particularly like to have on my team,” Raphinha told ESPN Brasil, as cited by Sport Witness, ahead of Thursday’s clash.
“Because in addition to the experience he has in football, in the things he has achieved in football, he’s a great leader, he’s a great person, and he manages to complete a team with the football, with the quality he has, and with the defensive part that for me, he’s one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.”
The Camp Nou is a stadium that Casemiro is all too familiar with following seven seasons in Real Madrid’s first team and he will be hoping to make the difference in the Europa League knockout tie for the Red Devils.