CASEMIRO has one of the most impressive CVs in world football — but it will count for nothing as he tries to prove himself all over again at Manchester United.
Maybe he knows it too. That could be why the veteran Brazilian was the first player to report for training at Carrington in recent days.
The five-time Champions League winner had a nightmare in his last appearance for the Red Devils two weeks ago.
He was blamed for Liverpool’s first two goals and then hooked at half-time as United lost 3-0 on a disastrous showing against their bitter rivals at Old Trafford.
Now he has even more competition with new £50.8million signing Manuel Ugarte— as well as rookie Toby Collyer — pushing for his place in Erik ten Hag’s team.
So he may have to get his head down and be patient.
During the international break the 32-year-old was linked with a move to Galatasaray but a firm offer never materialised, now he and United are stuck with each other.
Ten Hag has spoken with Casemiro about his horror show against Arne Slot’s men and says he will pick the team from what he sees in training from now on.
The United boss said: “I normally do talk to them and in this case I did as well. But players in our club know when you are playing at this level there is always competition.
“They also know you can only be successful if you have a squad with cover.
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“You can’t have a squad where you only have one player who can cover — you need at least two for each position.
“Sometimes it is three for two. That is OK when you have very robust players. All the players will understand — then it’s about what is the best fit for the team.
“They have to prove it, the key word. They will have games but they have to take responsibility and win games for the club.
“If they show their levels on the training pitch, show levels and they’ll have playing time and then it’s about contributing to the team.
“I am looking far ahead. A player who benefits most will play more minutes. That is also normal.”
While Ten Hag and the new football leadership team have high hopes for Ugarte — after the Uruguayan’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain — they still need Casemiro to get back on track.
With Europa League commitments starting this month, it will be a hectic period for the Red Devils.
And the Dutch boss does not want the experienced star to be judged too harshly on his shocker against Liverpool.
He added: “We definitely need him for sure, of course I speak with him about the situation, everyone can have a bad day at the office.
“But it’s normal in life you have highs and lows and it’s the same in the life of a football player.
“For a football player there are many observing this and have an opinion on this and you have to deal with this.
“He knows how to deal with it. Nobody’s career goes only up, no team pattern only goes up. Then you have to deal with it — then it is about what is the end result.
“But he is experienced. It’s not the first time I guess he’s had to deal with a bad game, he has to overcome it this well.”
Ugarte, 23, only arrived back from international duty on Thursday lunchtime but is in contention to play at Southampton.
Ten Hag revealed he has followed the South American since he featured for Sporting Lisbon against his Ajax team in the Champions League group stage three years ago.
The Amsterdam outfit ran out comfortable winners in both matches but the way the midfielder performed stuck in his memory.
Manuel Ugarte the next Roy Keane
By PHIL THOMAS
NEARLY two decades have passed since Roy Keane led Manchester United into battle for the final time.
It left a gap in the engine room that the Red Devils have never really come close to filling in the 19 years that have followed.
Many tried and some managed it in flashes and, although the trophies still rolled in for a time, there was no snarling, bring-it-on warrior prowling the midfield.
Until now… until the imminent capture of a man who views a 50-50 challenge like a starving Labrador staring at a side of ham.
For three months, United have licked their own lips at the prospect of a midfield marshalled by Uruguayan tough guy Manuel Ugarte.
Finally, they have their man.
Ugarte is pretty much a ball-winner pure and simple.
Rarely will you see him pinging 40-yard passes to split a defence.
But ending his days with half the reputation of Keane and a fraction of his silverware would still mean a hell of a career.
Ten Hag added: “He’s been on my radar a long time, he played for Sporting Lisbon vs Ajax.
“It was not only that match, also the seasons after when he played there and for Uruguay and PSG.
“I had him in my mind and my eye, the scouting department had him in their mind and we followed him and we judged he will be a really good fit for our team.
“He’s coming in as a late transfer but he’s playing a very important position, connecting the defending with attacking and attacking with defending.
“Communication is very important to guide the team and lead the team, make the connections between defence and attack.
“We have to help and guide him about how to play that role but what we have seen, he knows a lot already and has the profile where we think he can fit in that role.
“We have to teach him details about how it works in our team.”
Ten Hag is also backing summer arrival Matthijs de Ligt to bounce back from his Dutch disaster.
De Ligt, signed in a £42.7m deal from Bayern Munich, had a nightmare international break.
The 25-year-old was at fault for a goal in Holland’s 5-2 win over Bosnia then got blamed for both in a 2-2 draw with Germany days later.
Ten Hag said: “I know Matthijs and he is a great personality, his character. He will overcome this and will bounce back.
“I’m not afraid for this situation — it’s about the Dutch squad — not his club. I know his qualities, I know he’ll fight back.”
