As of right now, Casemiro is one of the Saudi Pro League’s top transfer targets for 2024. According to 90min, an offer for the Manchester United midfielder might come in January.
After a dismal beginning to Erik ten Hag’s tenure as manager, United signed the Brazilian from Real Madrid in August 2022, and he significantly improved the team’s consistency in the months that followed. With several significant goals, Casemiro helped United win the Carabao Cup, make it to the FA Cup final, and finish in the top four of the Premier League.
The enormous expense of his signing (United paid £60 million plus a further £10 million in add-ons and agreed to earnings of almost £300,000 per week) and the duration of the contract have at times drawn criticism. With Casemiro turning 32 in February, United has the option to extend their four-year contract by one more season. The team is currently just over a year into the deal.
Despite his brief success, Casemiro has battled for consistency in the first few months of the current league season, as United has dropped five of its first 11 league games. Critics have pointed out how little Ten Hag can cover ground, and the manager himself has drawn criticism for his contentious statement that he “wanted more football” when explaining why he substituted him against Brentford last month.
Even though Casemiro is now sidelined, the Saudi Pro League is still interested in him as they work to develop a competitive group of elite players, as 90min has learnt. Two of the most well-known athletes who chose to relocate to the Middle East are Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, and PIF is getting ready for a fresh influx of newcomers in 2024.
Numerous United players, including captain Bruno Fernandes and standout player Casemiro, are reportedly being courted, and the possibility of moves is being investigated through middlemen.
Although no deal will be considered till next summer, if at all, Bruno is the new club captain for United, but that hasn’t stopped PIF representatives from looking into the possibility. However, it’s believed that Casemiro would be more accessible in January given the possibility that United will be able to recover a sizable portion of their original outlay on the player in terms of salary and transfer fees.
Although United has not been actively shopping Casemiro, they would consider selling to the right buyer if their situation in relation to Financial Fair Play become a worry over a few months. Over the past year, United has witnessed rivals Liverpool and Chelsea reap significant financial benefits from their sales to the Saudi Pro League, which has aided in their own roster improvements.
Saudi teams have also shown interest in Anthony Martial, who has an expiring deal next summer.
It is anticipated that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will acquire 25% of United in the upcoming weeks, and that Ratcliffe’s selections will take over as the club’s football operations’ managers. Paul Mitchell, who was previously with Tottenham, RB Leipzig, and Monaco, is expected to join as sporting director or a position similar, while Jean-Claude Blanc is expected to join as CEO.
Ratcliffe and INEOS are anticipated to make a significant investment in enhancing United’s facilities, and it’s probable that they will alter their approach to the transfer market and move away from the club’s heavily criticized transfer policy from the years after Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill.
