‘Not shrewd or smart’ – Neville’s shock criticism of Casemiro transfer

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 2 Mar 2023 07:44 GMT
• 4 min read

Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes that the club are in danger of falling into a transfer trap this summer after capturing Casemiro from Real Madrid in 2022.

The Brazil international has proven one of the signings of the season, helping to turn the Old Trafford side from failing giants into a side that has the possibility of winning four trophies.

Signed for an initial £60 million (€70m) from Los Blancos, there is no doubt that he has provided an injection of quality, experience and winning mentality that Man Utd and Erik ten Hag needed to turn the club’s fortunes around after arguably their worst ever Premier League season in 2021/22.

MORE: Bellingham told to play alongside Casemiro at Man Utd

Neville, though, has his doubts over the longevity of the deal, which he has described as neither “smart of shrewd”.

His concerns centre around the value for money United will get over Casemiro over a prolonged period of time – and he fears that the club might repeat the decision in the summer, especially under new ownership.

“I feel like Ten Hag is not going to sign marquee names,” Neville told The Overlap.

MORE: Man Utd’s four-man striker shortlist this summer

“If new owners come in they’re going to want to make a statement, they’ll want to blow the transfer market open. I don’t think that will suit him.

“I think he’ll want those younger, hungrier ones that have still got that growth rather than the finished article.

“Casemiro obviously defeats that a little bit, but you look at Antony and Lisandro Martinez, they’re younger and hungrier.

“I think that’s the type of player he’ll want to add to this squad rather than saying: ‘Oh, Kylian Mbappe’s available or so-and-so is available.’

“But Casemiro, there’s no doubt – we all said it by the way – £60m? £70m? And £20m-a-year [contract] for five years is a £170m investment. That is a massive investment.

“It’s not a smart or shrewd signing when you look at it from a long-term point of view. None of us thought that.

“But the impact he’s having in the short term and what Manchester United need now, he’s devastating for the club in unbelievable ways.”

Neville fears for Harry Kane deal

Neville has singled out Harry Kane as a signing that he believes would be overpriced given his age, with Man Utd linked with the Tottenham star in their search for a new No.9.

“He will score 30 goals, he will get 10-15 assists, and that is an absolute fact,” Neville said of Kane.

“He’s a professional, the dressing room will love him, he’ll fit in straight away and he’s a guarantee for Manchester United. But if he’s going to cost £150m and he’s 30, then it’s a short-lived impact.

“So I think Harry Kane is the type of player who could take you to the title, he is, because he would just connect the whole of the midfield, the top of the pitch, he’ll score goals, the fans will love him, the players will love him and I don’t see how you can go wrong with him.

“But the fact of the matter is, for the long term, it wouldn’t be something that worked.

“He’s got another five years left in his career by the way, so I don’t think there’s a problem with that, it’s just that he is, obviously, in the latter part of his career.”

Casemiro, meanwhile, is under contract at Man Utd until June 2026.