In Focus: Classy Casemiro can bring Brazil form to Old Trafford

Casemiro has been Brazil’s star performer at this World Cup and that spells good news for Manchester United. 

The midfielder has impressed during his brief time at Old Trafford, becoming a vital member of Erik ten Hag’s new-look team. 

Yet Casemiro has stepped up and shown another level for the Selecao in Qatar, producing a stunning finish to score the deciding goal in the 1-0 win over Switzerland last Monday.

With Brazil facing Cameroon next on their quest for the Jules Rimet trophy, we take a look at what the future holds for Casemiro’s World Cup campaign and what to expect when he returns to Premier League action.

Leaving LaLiga

There were some questioning United's decision to sign Casemiro from Real Madrid last summer for £60million plus a potential £10m in add-ons. 

It looked a large fee for a player that turned 30 back in February and having chased the Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong for many weeks, the sudden shift to Casemiro seemed knee-jerk.

The Red Devils have made many mistakes in the transfer market in recent years, with a number involving big name, older players. 

So fears over the signing were understandable, but the combative Casemiro never seemed a candidate to coast through the final years of his career. 

He won everything on offer during his nine years in Madrid, anchoring the midfield as the Spanish giants won both LaLiga and the Champions League last season. 

Los Blancos were not in a rush to sell him, but with the player keen on a new challenge and replacements already at the club in the shape of Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni, this was a deal that made sense for everyone. 

Selecao selection

Though it took time for Casemiro to become a regular starter at his new club, he had firmly established himself within the United midfield prior to the break for the World Cup. 

Partnered with Christian Eriksen in the base of Ten Hag’s 4-2-3-1 formation, Casemiro provides the Red Devils with defensive protection not seen since the days of Roy Keane. 

Casemiro’s passing ability has also impressed, with the South American proving adept at making incisive balls to the team’s attackers. 

Following an injury to Neymar in Brazil’s opening game, Tite's outfit shifted from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3, that gave Casemiro more license to get forward. 

The result was the goal from within the box that booked Brazil’s place in the last 16 and it poses questions about how Casemiro could be utilised under Ten Hag.

At Madrid, Casemiro was always going to do the hard work that would allow Luka Modric and Toni Kroos to shine. He is now demonstrating what happens when he is the main man in a midfield. 

High praise

Manchester United midfielders do not get any more legendary than Bryan Robson and the former England captain has compared Casemiro to another Old Trafford great. 

Speaking about Casemiro’s World Cup performances, Robson said: "Casemiro has done terrific. 

"He knows where to be on the pitch, he gets into great positions to intercept and get tackles in, but he’s a really good passer of the ball, and he sees the picture. 

"He’s a bit like [Paul] Scholesy as far as seeing the picture before the ball even comes to you. He’s great at playing the ball forward. I think he’ll only get better when they come back from the World Cup."

Meanwhile, the injured Neymar was even more effusive in his praise, following the victory over Switzerland. 

The Paris Saint-Germain forward wrote on Twitter: "Casemiro has been the best midfielder in the world for a long time."

New partner

With such figures heaping praise on Casemiro, any doubts regarding the wisdom of his signing seem long gone. 

He has been the unlikely star of the Samba Boys' World Cup campaign so far, giving Ten Hag plenty to think about. 

With Casemiro played alongside Eriksen in a 4-2-3-1, there is a limit to how much of Casemiro’s all-round game that he will be able to display. 

If paired with a more robust midfielder, or used in a 4-3-3, United could provide a platform that Casemiro did not always have the benefit of during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The club remain linked with a move for De Jong, while other options include the England midfield duo Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, who are both set to be available in the summer. 

Casemiro is showing the full range of his capabilities on the biggest stage of all and he may well hit similar heights at United before long.