Time for the real Casemiro to stand up...

WHEN Casemiro's name vanished from the United team sheet between it being submitted at Wembley for the FA Cup final and then confirmed to the public it looked like a bizarre final act in his Old Trafford career.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

The Brazilian had been struggling with tightness in the lead-up to the final game of the season but the 15-minute turnaround between being named as a sub and then withdrawing himself led to questions.

After a difficult season, Casemiro's spot in the team was always likely to go to Sofyan Amrabat.

So difficult had his second season at Old Trafford been that it was expected Casemiro's time was up. A high-earning 32-year-old whose worth to the team had diminished was an obvious candidate to be axed by Ineos, who would never have sanctioned a £60m (rising to £70m) fee for a 30-year-old two summers ago.

The problem with that plan was finding a suitor and as interest from Saudi Arabia cooled, United were left with little option but to keep the former Real Madrid man and try and make it work.

Casemiro was back at Wembley for the Community Shield last week and started on the opening night of the Premier League season against Fulham.