In fact, the Brazilian made the difference last season. Casemiro, signed from Real Madrid for £70m, has given Manchester United much-needed metal in central midfield. This strength made all ten Hags harder to beat, but Casemiro wasn’t the kind of anchor in midfield he wanted.
Ten Hag has compromised Manchester United so much that his team is nothing like the Ajax that earned him the spot at Old Trafford in the top position. Now that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are in position as minority owners of the club, a review is coming and Casemiro may be one of the players propelled towards the exit door.
Casemiro is said to have a contract that will pay him £350,000 per week, making him Manchester United’s highest-paid player and one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League. The 31-year-old Brazilian is entering the twilight of his career and his consistent performance this season reflects that. Are United getting their money’s worth?
A similar question could be asked of Raphael Varane. Also signed from Real Madrid, the Frenchman has been in and out of Manchester United’s squad this season despite earning a salary of £340,000 per week. No one doubts Varane’s ability or exconsistent experience, but is he doing enough to justify his higher salary?
While INEOS is said to be assessing the Old Trafford squad in the coming months and planning for the summer move window in which a number of new signings are expected to be made, there are signs that a number of high-paid players have been signed. Jadon Sancho has already left on loan from Borussia Dortmund.
By clearing the decks as quickly as possible, INEOS would give United the best chance of recovery next season, whether that’s with ten Hag in charge or not. Manchester United’s current wage structure will limit their options in the summer transfer window and so INEOS can’t wait any longer to address this problem.
Casemiro and Varane are exceptional players. In their time, they are still as intelligent as they are in world football in their respective positions. But if Manchester United are now building a new future, they want players who can help them get there. United want players for the future, but men of yesterday.