Casemiro names Man Utd star he’d hate playing against; tips new signing for managerial role
Casemiro lifted the lid on his new Man Utd teammates in a Q & A, including naming who’s got a future in management and a surprise name that’s the hardest worker in training.
Once Man Utd’s move for Frenkie de Jong fell flat, Erik ten Hag quickly turned his attention to Casemiro. The ex-Real Madrid destroyer was snapped up in a deal that could hit £70m. However, despite a stuttering start, Casemiro is already having a big impact at Old Trafford.
He’s started each of United’s last five and predictably, they’ve not tasted defeat in that time.
He’s played alongside a rotating cast of midfield partners including Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen and Fred over that span, though Casemiro has emerged as the one constant for Ten Hag.
Pundit Owen Hargreaves recently claimed Casemiro is now undroppable. A brief glance over his recent displays indicate why, while Hargreaves also cited which United quartet are laying the foundation for success.
Now, speaking in a Q & A held by Premier League Productions, the 30-year-old lifted the lid on his new Manchester United teammates.
The midfielder was asked a variety of questions about both on and off-field matters, beginning with who’s the fastest in training.
Casemiro named Marcus Rashford who has recently kept Cristiano Ronaldo out of the eleven. The Portuguese has not taken his diminished role well and his antics at the end of the 2-0 victory over Spurs have prompted a stern punishment from the club.
Elsewhere, Casemiro named Lisandro Martinez as the squad’s funniest player and couldn’t split Jadon Sancho and Antony for most skilful.
Man Utd star Casemiro wouldn’t want to face
Regarding the player he’d always demand be on his side in training – another way of saying who he’d least like to face – Casemiro named Antony.
United pursued the former Ajax flier throughout much of the summer. A deal was finally reached on deadline day after United agreed to stump up a whopping £86m.
However, three goals in his first four league matches along with a series of explosive and skilful moments suggest he may prove money well spent in the long run.
On who’s likeliest to become a manager, Casemiro named classy midfield playmaker, Christian Eriksen.
Finally, Casemiro named the surprise figure of Bruno Fernandes as having the best engine in training.
Fernandes dispels common myth
Many have questioned Fernandes’ application in recent times, though those criticisms are seemingly without merit.
Ten Hag himself recently lauded Fernandes for his work in defensive transitions. He also earned high praise for the leadership qualities he’s showing while skippering the side in Harry Maguire’s absence.
Some within the media – such as ex-Liverpool midfielder, Danny Murphy – suggested it was unfathomable that Ten Hag would ever play Fernandes and Eriksen in the same eleven.
The crux of his argument centred around United not having enough legs and defensive workrate if the two played together.
Clearly, in Ten Hag and Casemiro’s eyes at least, Murphy’s observations are wide of the mark.
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