Casemiro to Man Utd: The winners and losers

Robin Bairner

• 19 Aug 2022 13:27 BST
• 4 min read

Casemiro looks closer than ever to completing a sensational transfer to Manchester United from Real Madrid.

Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti says he spoke to the Brazil international on Friday, during which time the defensive midfielder said that he wanted to leave the club for a new challenge. Real Madrid are ready to accept that request.

It is a transfer that is sure to have ramifications throughout the footballing world, but who are the winners and who are the losers from what promises to be one of the biggest deals of the summer?

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WINNER: Erik ten Hag

OK, the Manchester United manager missed out on his first target of Frenkie de Jong, but in capturing Casemiro, he has shown that he is capable of attracting world-class talent to the club. It is a deal that should dramatically bolster a problem area.

LOSER: Real Madrid

The European champions are set to lose one of their most important players less than a week into the new season. Although Real Madrid are in the process of rejuvenating their midfield, it surely wasn’t in their plans to lose the youngest member of their starting trio at this late point in the window. Casemiro, after all, is still one of La Liga’s leading players.

WINNER: Cristiano Ronaldo

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been privately frustrated at Man Utd’s inability to get big deals over the line, which has been one of the reasons he wants to leave the club. Casemiro, a former Real Madrid team-mate of his, is unlikely to change his perspective entirely – but at least it’s a start.

LOSER: Scott McTominay

One half of McFred is destined to drop out of the team to rarely be seen again. McTominay has been a loyal servant to Man Utd, but he’s just not in Casemiro’s class.

WINNER: Aurelien Tchouameni

Criticised following a lacklustre debut against Almeria, Tchouameni might have feared for his place in the team. Casemiro’s impending departure, though, means that he is now surely guaranteed a run in the starting XI, which will give him the chance to settle properly in the Spanish capital.

WINNER: Barcelona

Barca’s biggest rivals for the Primera Division title have just lost a lynchpin midfielder as the season is about to start. It represents a great opportunity for them to take advantage.

LOSER: Barcelona

On the flip side, Barca could also be considered losers in this deal. With Man Utd no longer in the market for De Jong, their prospects of offloading the Netherlands midfielder have depleted. Certainly, driving the type of fee they want from the player out of Chelsea will certainly be more problematic given there is no obvious competition for him.