Fred's Manchester United future is looking increasingly uncertain and the Brazilian midfielder has already detailed his stance over a potential transfer.
02.06.2023 - 16:27 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
As the dust settled on another thumping for Manchester United away at City, in the sprawling Etihad press room Erik ten Hag unconvincingly explained why he did not maximise a Portuguese-speaking five-times Champions League winner out of "big respect for his career".
Ten Hag was speaking about Cristiano Ronaldo but might as well have referred to Casemiro. The Brazilian had not yet lined up in the Premier League and the ramifications of his slow integration crystallised at the Etihad. United were 4-0 down at the interval and trailed 6-1 going into the final 10 minutes.
Casemiro emerged on the hour to plug the gaps but City scored two more. "They were better than us in that game," Casemiro concedes. "They deserved to beat us but when you talk about a 6-3 in the context of a league, it's still three more points that you get.
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"Of course, in the end, your morale drops and it's boosted when you score six in victory but it's three points like any other game. So, it was another three points. We beat them at home, too."
Casemiro started in the Old Trafford derby in January. One of the most enduring images is of Casemiro enveloping two young supporters as he wildly celebrated Marcus Rashford's winner. A euphoric supporter tugged at Casemiro's shirt, so he received a bearhug, too.
Though City stewed over Bruno Fernandes's contentious equaliser, United were wilier than their naive approach in the reverse fixture and Casemiro's inclusion was key.
It is a reflection of Casemiro's cachet he has been elected by the United media staff to conduct an interview on the eve of the first all-Manchester FA Cup final. Unlike in the season's first derby, Casemiro
Fred's Manchester United future is looking increasingly uncertain and the Brazilian midfielder has already detailed his stance over a potential transfer.
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