Man Utd 'still need a Keane' despite Casemiro's start, says club legend

Stuart Telford

• 10 Feb 2023 19:55 GMT
• 3 min read

Casemiro has made an excellent start to his Manchester United career, but he has nothing on any of the 1999 treble winners according to one of their number…

Casemiro joined United from Real Madrid in an €80 million deal last August and has won plaudits for his combination of steel and silk in the middle of the park, with his four goals and six assists coming as a pleasant surprise for some.

The Brazilian, who won five Champions Leagues in his nine years in Madrid, was suspended for Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Leeds, and his absence was felt, the Red Devils failing to win for the first time in five games.

READ: Man Utd's record with and without Casemiro

But Dwight Yorke, who scored 29 goals in all competitions as United won the continental treble under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999, doesn't think Casemiro would have got into that team.

'Casemiro's good but…'

"When you look at Casemiro's resume as a player, he's done it all," the Trinidadian told OLBG. "But is he as prolific as Paul Scholes? No. Does he have as good of a passing range as Scholesy? No."

"I'd pick Scholesy every day of the week over Casemiro, as good as he's been for Manchester United recently, he's not in the same league as Scholes. I wouldn't swap anyone in my '99 treble team for Casemiro."

READ: The Best Premier League Transfers Ever: Roy Keane to Manchester United (1993/94)

As high as Yorke's praise for Scholes is, it's another player from the '99 vintage that the former forward thinks United need to try and replicate.

"Roy Keane's the player Manchester United need in the team now, because of his leadership quality," Yorke said. He'd give everyone a kick. He'd get everyone moving in the team and raise the standards."

It could be argued that Casemiro has already raised standards, but United continue to be linked with another central midfielder, with Frenkie de Jong and Jude Bellingham among their dream targets.