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Casemiro's emotional Old Trafford send-off
Manchester United fans will chant "One more year" one last time as Brazilian midfielder Casemiro makes his final appearance at Old Trafford in Sunday's match against Nottingham Forest. The 34-year-old, who joined the club from Real Madrid in 2022, will leave after a rollercoaster tenure marked by highs, lows, and a late resurgence under interim manager Michael Carrick.
A career defined by resilience
Casemiro's journey at United has been anything but smooth. After a strong start, his form dipped sharply in 2024, culminating in a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in May, where pundit Jamie Carragher declared it was time for the veteran to "leave the football before the football leaves you." The comment stung, with Casemiro later calling it "disrespectful" in an interview with former United captain Rio Ferdinand.
His struggles reached a nadir in December 2024 when United suffered a dismal home loss to Newcastle. Fans turned on striker Joshua Zirkzee after he was substituted in the 33rd minute, but the unspoken fear was that Casemiro's exit would have sparked even greater backlash. Though he lasted until the 64th minute, his performance was so ineffective that interim manager Ruben Amorim remarked, "Even Toby [Collyer] was sometimes playing in front of him."
Redemption and revival
After being sidelined for nearly seven weeks, Casemiro staged a remarkable comeback. Amorim, who had previously doubted his physical ability to compete in the Premier League, changed his mind after three months of relentless effort. The turning point came on March 6, 2025, when Casemiro started in a Europa League draw against Real Sociedad and retained his place for the subsequent league match against Arsenal. From that moment, he became an undisputed starter in every major game.
"Football changes. Life changes. For me, [with] the best players in the world, it's about the mentality. I might not play well-I'm not a robot and I know. But the next [game], I give everything on the pitch. The mentality is next, next, next."
Casemiro, in an interview with Rio Ferdinand
Impact beyond the pitch
Casemiro's influence this season has been pivotal. Carrick, who took over as interim manager in January, has praised his leadership, calling him "an absolute pleasure to work with" in his matchday programme notes. The Brazilian's absence in February, after the transfer window closed, would have been a significant blow to United's successful push for Champions League qualification.
His partnership with young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has been particularly fruitful. The pair have started together in 13 of Carrick's 15 matches, missing only one game each due to minor injuries. Casemiro has taken Mainoo under his wing, offering guidance and humor-often in English, as Mainoo doesn't speak Portuguese.
"Kobbie is my friend. We are always joking. He is a complete player, the present and the future of Manchester. The one thing he needs to improve is to play more with the ball, to touch the ball more, because he has so much quality. Then it's the decision-making, which comes with experience."
Casemiro, in an interview with United We Stand
A legacy of passion
Casemiro's connection with United's fans has been a defining feature of his time at the club. Despite his struggles, supporters continued to sing his name, especially after goals or key moments-like his early strike against Brentford last month, which prompted him to kiss the club badge in response.
His five-year-old son, Caio, has become a United fan in his own right, singing the club's songs at home and even crying when the team loses. Casemiro has described the fans' unwavering support as "incredible," noting that their passion is what sets United apart from other clubs he's played for.
"The most important thing about this club are the fans. Many times, we lose a game but in the next game they support us more. For me, that's incredible. I've never experienced that in my career."
Casemiro, in an interview with United We Stand
What's next?
With his United career now over, Casemiro is expected to captain Brazil at this summer's World Cup under Carlo Ancelotti. After that, a move to Major League Soccer has been widely speculated. For now, though, his focus remains on Sunday's farewell, where the Old Trafford faithful will once again serenade him with chants of "One more year."
