A tearful Carlos Henrique Casemiro bade farewell to Real Madrid on Monday at a ceremony where the club he has departed to join Manchester United lavished fulsome praise on him.
“You’ll always be one of us,” said the club’s president Florentino Perez in a speech reflecting the admiration Casemiro is held in. The 18 trophies he won over his eight seasons with Madrid were all on display.
After an emotional morning of goodbyes, the Brazilian flew to Manchester, aiming to arrive in plenty of time to take a seat in the stands at Old Trafford for Monday night’s visit of Liverpool, and from there assess, close up, what awaits him at United. “A great club” as Casemiro called them.
He has accepted a stiff challenge, at the age of 30, and a major boost in salary, but will know that he cannot expect trophies to come to him there at the rate they did in Madrid.
Perez, who has banked for his club a transfer fee that could rise to €70m for a move he said Casemiro had “gained the right to choose”, recalled one of his first conversations with the 20-year-old midfielder Madrid had scouted in Sao Paulo, and an early impression of the same confidence United have invested in. “You said to me that if you were given five games, that would be enough to show your quality,” remembered Perez. “It wasn’t to be five - it would be 336, and you fought through every game as if it were your last.”
As it happens, Casemiro’s last game as a starter in a Madrid jersey finished with a man-of-the-match award in a European final, the Uefa Super Cup victory over Eintracht Frankfurt two weeks ago. Three months ago, he collected his fifth Champions League gold medal in Madrid’s 1-0 win in Paris against Liverpool.
In the aftermath of that triumph, Casemiro said, “the feeling was that it was time for a change, a new club, a new country, a new culture.” The principal motivation was not, the player insisted, the hefty salary that United offered: “Anybody who thinks I have left for money doesn’t know me.
“I want to get to know the Premier League from inside. I’m in as good form as any time in my career.”
Leaving would still be a wrench, Casemiro acknowledged. He singled out, in the Madrid family, the two colleagues with whom he has been most closely associated. No midfield unit in the modern game has been as successful over such a long period as Casemiro’s partnership with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. They won 17 trophies and played well over 200 games together, a peerless blend of vigilance and anticipation from the Brazilian, accuracy and vision from Kroos, allied with the energy and inspiration of Modric, now an ageless 36.
The close ties on the pitch spread beyond it, as Modric and Kroos recognised in very personal tributes. “You’re an exemplary professional,” the German told Casemiro, “a top player who rescued me again and again.” He joked about his teammates’ relentless work ethic. “With you, no one could even relax in the steam bath without being told it was time to go and do some weights. Your new teammates need to be warned!”
Modric cast his departing friend’s mind back to the day of Casemiro’s senior Madrid debut, in 2013. “You were so nervous and I told you to relax. I think about that when I look at how things worked out. You’re a true leader, and the best bodyguard in the world.”
Real win Uefa Super Cup
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Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, Karim Benzema and Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid pose for a photograph with the Uefa Super Cup trophy after a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt at Helsinki Olympic Stadium on August 10, 2022 in Helsinki, Finland. Getty Images -
Karim Benzema of Real Madrid lifts the Uefa Super Cup trophy. The Frenchman svcored the second Real's two goals against Eintracht Frankfurt. Getty Images -
Real Madrid celebrate winning the Uefa Super Cup trophy. Getty Images -
Real Madrid captain Karim Benzema lifts the Uefa Super Cup trophy. Getty Images -
Players of Real Madrid look on as Karim Benzema walks the Uefa Super Cup trophy onto the stage during the trophy presentation. Getty Images -
Karim Benzema of Real Madrid scores his side's second goal whilst under pressure from Tuta and Djibril Sow of Eintracht Frankfurt. Getty Images -
Karim Benzema scores to make it 2-0 to Real Madrid. Getty Images -
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema lifts the trophy after winning the Uefa Super Cup final. AP Photo -
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema and Frankfurt's Brazilian defender Tuta vie for the ball. AP Photo -
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their second goal. Reuters -
Real Madrid's David Alaba celebrates with the trophy after winning the European Super Cup. The Austrian opened the scoring in a 2-0 win. AP -
Frankfurt's Jesper Lindstrom, left, duels for the ball with Real Madrid's David Alaba. AP Photo -
Real Madrid's David Alaba celebrates scoring their first goal. Reuters -
David Alaba of Real Madrid holds the trophy after winning the Uefa Super Cup final. EPA -
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti celebrates after the final whistle. Getty Images -
Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti, centre, speaks with his players Casemiro, right, and Eder Militao. AP Photo
A tough act to follow, then, for the midfielders being groomed by Madrid to take over from the Casemiro-Modric-Kroos combination.
Casemiro was well aware of the club’s focus on covering his deeper role in particular. Aurelien Tchouameni, the 22-year-old French anchor midfielder was signed from Monaco for €80m earlier this summer. Edu Camavinga, Tchouameni’s compatriot, still only 19, joined 12 months earlier. “Madrid always sign the best,” said Casemiro, namechecking the two young Frenchmen, and adding his endorsement to Fede Valverde, the Uruguayan, 22. “Fede has 10 or 12 years ahead of him and can also play my role.”
Ahead of Casemiro are huge expectations at an unstable club in need of an able bodyguard in midfield, among new colleagues who could use the sort of rescuer Kroos paid homage to, and alongside up-and-coming United prospects who will appreciate a wise, tough, serial champion who, as Perez said “was a father to our younger players".
“The pressure here at Madrid is not easy,” the president told him, “but you rose to it.” The pressure where Casemiro is heading is no lighter.
Man United v Liverpool ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 8. His defenders saved him in the first half. Got down to save from Fabinho after 66. Fine one handed save after 80. Fuming a minute later when Salah scored. AP -
Diogo Dalot 7. Strong at right-back. A little too strong when he was booked for a yellow card on 45.A positive night for the Portuguese. Reuters -
Raphael Varane 9. Started ahead of captain Harry Maguire. Booked after 27, but the sight of him juggling the ball in the Liverpool box before setting up Rashford caught the mood with United at 2-0. The Varane Manchester United hoped they were buying. Won everything in the air. AP -
Lisandro Martinez 9. Brilliant sliding block from Salah after 40 and then saved the ball on the line from what was going to be a Fernandes own goal 30 seconds later. Positioning was flawless. Getty -
Tyrell Malacia 8. Positive start. Two key clearances as Liverpool pushed for a late equaliser. Got in front of Firmino – and in the faces of almost every Liverpool player - to break another attack up in those final tense minutes for his side. Fantastic debut. Offside -
Christian Eriksen 7. Curled a 24th minute free-kick towards goal and the fingers of Becker. Always had attacking intent. Worthy performance. EPA -
Scott McTominay 7. A surprise starter and he came out flying. Which he needed to do after performances this season. Scooped the ball away as Liverpool tried to get a goal back after 56, then blocked a 74th minute attack. EPA -
Jadon Sancho 8. Put his side ahead on 16 – controlling a ball, taking five neat touches and placing it along the floor past Alisson. His best moment since signing. AFP -
Bruno Fernandes 7. Captain and set up Elanga who hit the post. Almost scored his first goal of the season – at the Stretford End in his own goal after 40. Martinez saved him. Took one poor touch as United went for a third after 73. Booked on 74. Told off by his manager for trying to play a through ball near the end. Getty -
Anthony Elanga 7. Played on the left of a front three and hit the post when he should have scored, then assisted Sancho to put United in the lead. The Stretford End sang his name. Off at half time. Getty -
Marcus Rashford 8. Played centre-forward and put United 2-0 up with a sweet finish, his first in the Premier League since January, then shot wide after 55 after being set up by Varane. Will have been delighted to hear the Stretford End sing his name. Offside -
SUBS: Anthony Martial 7. On for Elanga at half time. Looked confident. Set Rashford up for the second. Beautiful twist, turn and control to play the ball away from danger on 79. At the sharp end of a 91st minute attack. Reuters -
Fred 7. On for Sancho after 70. Defensive role to stop Liverpool breaking through. PA -
Donny van de Beek NA. On for Eriksen after 85. Steady in seeing out the game. PA -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka NA. On for Dalot after 86. Cleared a 91st minute attack and another a minute later and another a minute after that – and that was enough as United held on. AFP -
Cristiano Ronaldo NA. On for Rashford after 85. Spooned a shot over on 90. Getty -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker – 6. The Brazilian was let down by his defence for the goals. He made a fine save from Eriksen and kept the score down. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 3. When the 23-year-old is good, he is very, very good. This was one of his bad nights. It was ugly. Getty -
Joe Gomez – 6. The 25-year-old was the best of a poor defensive bunch. He made a couple of timely blocks and was less ruffled than his colleagues. PA -
Virgil van Dijk – 4. The Dutchman was unusually static, particularly on the opening goal. He showed his class by cutting out Rashford on the counter but overall he was way below his normal standards, as Milner pointed out. PA -
Andrew Robertson – 5. The Scot did not produce much going forward although he was solid when defending. He was withdrawn for Tsimikas with five minutes to go. Getty -
Harvey Elliott – 5. The 19-year-old was anonymous for long spells and did not help his defenders enough. He was better in the closing stages when his passing hinted at better things. Getty -
Jordan Henderson – 4. The captain pressed hard with limited success and was too often left stranded by the opposition’s pace and crisp passing. He made way for Fabinho in the 59th minute. Offside -
James Milner – 4. The 36-year-old produced more bluster than brilliance. His frustration showed in some questionable challenges and a running row with Van Dijk. He made way for Carvalho in the 73rd minute. AFP -
Mohamed Salah – 6. The Egyptian was isolated and the defence doubled up on him. Even so, he caused chaos when he got the ball and he pulled a goal back with a sharp finish. Getty -
Roberto Firmino – 3. The Brazilian swung his foot and missed the ball completely in the area in the second half and it summed up an unhappy night. He sat way too deep for much of the game and when he got forward he was ineffective. Reuters -
Luis Diaz – 6. The Colombian showed plenty of ambition and was the most direct of the Liverpool strikers. His relationship with Robertson needs serious work, though. Getty -
SUBS: Fabinho – 6. The Brazilian replaced Henderson in the 59th minute and settled things down in the midfield. He forced De Gea into a save with a back-post header. Getty -
Fabio Carvalho – 6. The Portuguese came on for Milner in the 73rd minute and produced a bright cameo. His shot created the chance for Salah to score. Getty -
Kostas Tsimikas – 5. The Greek joined the action with five minutes to go in place of Robertson. He was almost embarrassed by Martial. Reuters
