Man Utd are INSANE paying €80m for a player set to turn 31
Robin Bairner
- 18 Aug 2022 14:27 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United’s pursuit of Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro is heating up.
What appeared to simply be another name to add to the huge pile of players linked to the Old Trafford club may just have some substance.
Multiple reports from Spain suggest that the potential deal is coming closer to fruition, with Man Utd finally set to add a fourth signing to their squad this summer to follow Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez.
The fee that the Red Devils are having to pay to prise Casemiro away from the Bernabeu is astronomical, however.
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It is reported that Man Utd will pay an incredible €80m for Casemiro, effectively matching the fee that they were willing to splash out on Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong.
The Dutchman, though, is coming into the peak years of his career, having just turned 25. On the flip side, Casemiro will be 31 years old in February.
Casemiro to get generous terms at Man Utd
How are the club willing to sweeten the deal to get the Brazil international to trade the Champions League winners for a team who failed to qualify for the competition this season? Money.
Remarkably, Man Utd are ready to offer the veteran a five-year deal according to reports. This is the type of stability a player in his age bracket can only dream about. Casemiro may have a contract that runs with Madrid until 2025, but this deal with United would stretch two seasons beyond that.
Los Blancos, meanwhile, only dish out one-year contract extensions to players in their 30s, although they are ready to make an exception for Karim Benzema. Casemiro, whose earnings at Man Utd are expected to be around £300,000 per week (€355,000), will not only be on a big wage, but it will be guaranteed for a long time to come.
The trajectory of players once they reach 30 is unpredictable. Some can tail off quickly while others, such as Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, can remain near the peak of their powers.
Man Utd’s gamble to throw so much at Casemiro typifies the desperation they have shown in the window in recent days.
