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Casemiro has started this season looking lean, trim and fit and more importantly, playing good football.
Many had written off the Brazilian after a woeful 2023/24 campaign in which he looked as if his legs had gone.
This culminated in his being omitted from Erik ten Hag’s Cup Final line-up. Many thought he had kicked his last ball for United.
However, a lack of interest thus far in his services – Saudi Arabia would be the only likely destination due to his £350,000 a week wages – leaves it looking more and more certain he will remain a Manchester United player this season.
Recognising the fact that he needed to be replaced, either due to the legs having gone or the impending sale, United have been actively seeking a replacement and, in particular, they have been negotiating with Paris Saint-Germain for Manuel Ugarte.
But in those same weeks, the five-time Champions League winner’s renaissance has completely changed the landscape.
Simply put, if Casemiro is back to his best and cannot be sold, why do United need Ugarte, especially at a fee in excess of €50 million?
Another factor in this situation is the emerging talent of Kobbie Mainoo, who is currently Casemiro’s partner in central midfield.
United manager Erik ten Hag seems to have plans to mould Mainoo into a number eight, but most of the areas in which he excels are in terms of defensive actions.
Kobbie Mainoo's stats rankings for Man Utd v Fulham
— Temi || MUFC (@Temitope_15) August 17, 2024
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Stats from FBref show that last season, Casemiro’s expected goals were 3.1 versus Mainoo’s 0.9. Mainoo’s progressive carries were double those of Casemiro, but the Brazilian’s progressive passes were double those of Mainoo.
Their tackle percentages were almost identical.
Some would argue that a Mainoo-Casemiro partnership is not creative enough and does not have a good enough passing range to provide a balanced midfield. One enforcer and one deep-lying playmaker generally works, but Mainoo, for all his genius, is not the latter.
Ugarte is even more defensive-minded than Casemiro, so there is a danger that the intended Ugarte-Mainoo partnership would be immense defensively but insufficient in possession. United cannot rely on their wingers to create chances. With Bruno Fernandes operating high up the pitch, through balls and key passes must also come from the middle of the park.
In fact, if Casemiro continues his early season form, you have to wonder whether Ugarte would even get in the team anyway.
Perhaps Ineos should rethink the profile of midfielder they are looking for in the next 12 days. A Christian Eriksen replacement might be more urgent than a Casemiro one, with Mainoo himself capable of playing that role alongside someone more in the mould of players such as Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick or Luka Modric.
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The post Does Casemiro’s form mean Man United don’t need Manuel Ugarte? appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.