Casemiro is a modern football legend, but at 31, United will have to replace him in two years. Photo: Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt
Working as a defensive midfielder has never been more exciting or lucrative. Chelsea broke the British transfer record by signing Enzo Fernandez after the World Cup and then broke it again seven months later by signing Moises Caicedo, and Arsenal also signed Declan Rice this summer for £105m. were in touch with all the majors in Europe and were willing to pay £111m to end the search; and Manchester United are also looking for another shield for their back four.
Once considered a water carrier role, the specialist position has become the most expensive to fill.
Prices for Fernandez, Rice and Caicedo are astronomical. They are also good deals. Proof of this is the £70m Manchester United paid last summer for Casemiro. The Brazilian will end up costing United more than Arsenal and Chelsea paid for Rice and Caicedo.
Caicedo and Rice are examples of how to think ahead — act big now to save money for the next six or seven years, during which they will take over their role.
Declan Rice's best years at 24 are yet to come. Photo: Getty Images/David Price
I never believed that Casemiro would be worth the money. Not because there are doubts that he was a world-class player. But because he is at a stage in his career where he cannot fully repay United's huge fee. When he joined the team a year ago, he was bought in a panic, right after a failed pursuit by Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong; an aging star name signed for big money and a hefty salary to appease an increasingly dissatisfied fan base, despite needing a replacement two years later at an equally huge cost. This is exactly the kind of player United are turning down this summer as they look to the future.
There is no doubt that the 31-year-old Casemiro is a legend of modern football. His accolades speak for themselves and for many years he has been one of the best players in the world in his position at Real Madrid.
Casemiro's contribution to United has so far been more positive than negative, as he helped the club win the trophy last season and was a key component of the squad that rebuilt football in the Champions League. He performed well, adding experience and personality to the team at the start of the rebuild.
In this regard, many will argue that he has already justified the purchase, especially given the expected financial return from a return to the top four.
This does not change the fact that he moved to Old Trafford when his best years are behind him, so his overall contribution can only be effective for a short period of time. Is this a reasonable use of resources? United are now closely linked with the likes of Sofyan Amrabat to help Casemiro defend his backline, but they didn't challenge Arsenal and Chelsea for Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Fernandez or Rice because they felt that Casemiro was the same linebacker profile when they left. big for him.
This shows how unreasonable they were paying so much. Real Madrid simply won't let these kinds of players leave if they don't feel like they got the best of them. With Casemiro remaining four years on his reported £300,000-a-week deal at Old Trafford, United still have a huge financial obligation. It has already cost them the opportunity to buy a younger alternative.
Even last season, there were troubling signs that United paid a fortune for a short-term fix, creating yet another problem a year or two into the future. A 7-0 defeat at Anfield, when Casemiro was substituted in the 76th minute, was a wake-up call. United's first appearance of the season — a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday Night Football — was another. Casemiro was too often isolated and lacked the dynamism and energy needed for such a responsible position. Erik ten Hag is already in a situation where he needs to rebuild his midfield because Casemiro doesn't have the legs to work on his own. Putting someone next to him helps, but it can't turn back time and recreate the 25-year-old who won the toss at the Bernabeu.
At the moment the balance is out of whack with Casemiro, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandez. The Portuguese is a top ten, not a central midfielder, and Mount needs time to settle into his new club. Each time United have toiled in the centre, the contrast to the youth and vigor that Arsenal and Chelsea have provided with their recent midfield acquisitions has become more pronounced. It reminded me of how Fabinho struggled for Liverpool at the beginning of last season, and the situation was briefly corrected when Trent Alexander-Arnold moved to him before the Brazilian was sold. Even though it was just one game, United fans were worried about it.
Chelsea's investment in Moises Caicedo The 21-year-old should be back for years to come. Credit: Getty Images/Darren Walsh
Ten Hag will need an answer ahead of Saturday's trip to Tottenham. Spurs are at the start of a new era, but this is not the easiest stadium and United will suffer if their midfield is so open. In the long run, a dedicated player will be required to fix this.
The evolution of football has changed the perception and responsibility of the number six. Twenty years ago I played this role and the expectations were not so high. The challenge was to sit aggressively in front of the back four, read the game to see danger, put the foot in and show enough ball technique to give simple passes to the more creative players.
With the top teams now playing much higher, the defensive midfielder needs to be versatile, athletic enough to cover most of the field, and quick enough to pull back and make tackles to stop counter-attacks. Their throughput must also be such that they can quickly move from defense to attack. Perhaps most importantly, he must be «pressure resistant» and be able to withstand pressure when opponents hunt in packs to get the ball higher up the field.
In fact, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have spent the summer looking for a complete player who can fulfill all these requirements. Manchester City already have him in Rodri. It's no wonder that those assigned to the same role receive such incredible fees.
For decades, all of football's huge expenses were spent on attacking or attacking players. A few years ago, it was the central defenders who received record fees. Now coaches are desperate for resilience against teams that are applying a lot of pressure.
Casemiro was once the best in the world. Now there is a danger that United can afford expensive luxuries that they cannot afford. They won't be title contenders until they find their own Rodri, Caicedo or Rice. Having paid £70m for someone who could do the job five years ago but will continue to struggle to live up to his former high standards, the current market suggests the midfielder will need another £100m to do so over the next five years. .
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