Graeme Souness believes Casemiro’s decline proves he was right all along in insisting the Brazil international would prove to be anything but the transformative signing Manchester United were billing him as.
The serial Champions League winner made a hugely positive impact during the first half of last season following his shock transfer from Real Madrid.
Injuries and the lack of the lack of balance in Eirk ten Hag’s engine room has resulted in an alarming deterioration in the 32-year-old’s form, culminating in Monday’s disastrous performance against Crystal Palace.
Casemiro looked a shadow of his former self as Palace’s youngsters rang rings around a player who helped form one of the most iconic midfield triumvirates in European football history alongside Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
So out of his depth did Casemiro look, that Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher controversially advised him to quit Premier League football and seek a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
Casemiro’s decline has been of no surprise to Souness, however, who infamously branded the midfielder nothing more than a ‘steady Eddie’ upon his arrival 18 months ago.
Indeed, Souness believes he and Raphael Varane, another signing from Real Madrid that hasn’t worked out entirely to plan, have been ‘found out’.
‘I have never thought Casemiro was someone you paid money to watch play football,’ Souness told the William Hill Three Up Front podcast.
‘Yes, you can point at all the medals he has won, but he was a bit-part player in a very special team.
‘I never saw him as being the difference when he came to United – he’s just okay.
’He’s not a big player. It’s the same with Raphael Varane, if you don’t have something to offer, Real Madrid will sell you.
‘They sold them both to Man United, paying a premium on top of a premium because it’s the Premier League and because of the nature of the club.
’It’s a football decision which I feel they got wrong again. I think Casemiro has been found out.
‘If you’re a big player and you’ve got the opportunity to go to Man United, you’re going to take it because you’ll be thinking, ‘I can make them better’.’
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