Casemiro may still prove to be Man U's midfield shield

When Manchester United won a derby at Wembley in 2024, Casemiro was first dropped from the team and then out of the squad altogether, an apparent hamstring injury following the hurt of omission.

- RICHARD JOLLY

When they lost a derby at Wembley a couple of months later, he was captain, creator and shootout scorer.

Casemiro did not get to lift the Community Shield. Perhaps he did get an indication – even beyond the armband on his sleeve – to suggest there may be a way back into favour. Erik ten Hag said there was “no signal” that the Brazilian will leave this summer; it may mean there is no Saudi club willing to absorb his colossal salary.

A shift in the pecking order could prove a short-term affair. Casemiro’s end-of-season demotion below Sofyan Amrabat felt ignominious in itself, given the Moroccan’s form for much of the season, even if it was justified by his excellent display against Manchester City at Wembley. It reflected, too, the Brazilian’s dreadful spring; the nadir came in the 4-0 thrashing at Crystal Palace, though there was also his bizarrely bad version of the offside trap when Arsenal visited Old Trafford.

The nadir came when he was an ersatz centre-back. If the Community Shield suggested Casemiro was given a more suitable role than last season, it was not merely because he was restored to midfield; with Matthijs de Ligt primed to accompany Leny Yoro among the summer’s centre-back arrivals, he may not have to be drafted into defence again this year.