Carragher proved right about Casemiro's Man Utd transfer

Stuart Telford

• 17 Sept 2023 13:56 BST
• 3 min read

Casemiro was overrun as Manchester United were beaten 3-1 by Brighton on Saturday, making Jamie Carragher's words on the Brazilian at the start of the season seem particularly prescient now.

Casemiro had hit the ground running at United a year ago after arriving from Real Madrid for £80 million.

A five-time Champions League winner, he concluded the season with seven goals and seven assists from defensive midfield, helping the Red Devils to the EFL Cup and a third-place finish in the Premier League.

READ: Man Utd star Casemiro annoyed by 'disrespectful' manager questions

But the Brazilian, as well as many of his teammates in fairness, looks to be off the pace this term, and he was subbed of just past the hour against Brighton, with his replacement Hannibal Mejbri getting United's only goal.

Carragher 'never believed Casemiro was value for money'

"I never believed Casemiro would be value for money," Liverpool legend Carragher had told The Telegraph at the start of the season. "Not because there is any doubt that he has been a world-class player. But because he is at a stage of his career when he cannot fully repay United's massive fee."

Casemiro is now valued at €39.1m (£33.7m) by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, having had a highest ETV of €83.7m (£72.1m) at the height of his Madrid days. United will almost certainly never sell him on for a profit.

READ: Incredible Amrabat injury stat revealed as Man Utd star sits out Brighton clash

"He was a panic buy when he joined a year ago," Carragher had added. "An ageing, stellar name signed for big money and on a massive salary to appease increasingly disgruntled fans, despite the fact he will need replacing with a similarly massive outlay two years on."

United have moved to bolster the position this summer, but having spent nearly €180m on players in other positions, they were reduced to loaning Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina, with an option to make the deal permanent for £21.4m at the end of the season.