Casemiro given new Brazil role to give Erik ten Hag food for thought at Man Utd
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Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has made a significant impact for his new club this season, and it looks as though the former Real Madrid man will have a new task for his country
Casemiro has been handed the captain’s armband for Brazil’s upcoming international matches, prompting suggestions he could be chosen for a similar role at Manchester United.
The former Real Madrid man only joined United over the summer, so the mere mention of his name as a future captain speaks to his impact. Harry Maguire is the current skipper, but if he leaves over the summer – as has been mooted – then manager Erik ten Hag will have a decision to make.
Bruno Fernandes has regularly worn the armband for United this season when Maguire has been involved. Not everyone has been convinced by the Portuguese, though, and Casemiro’s new responsibilities can serve as a reminder to the Red Devils’ manager.
According to Globo, Casemiro will captain Brazil when they take on Morocco in a friendly on Saturday. It will be his first time skippering the side since their World Cup qualifier against Ecuador in January 2022 and just the 11th time overall.
Thiago Silva was Brazil’s captain at the World Cup, as they reached the quarter-finals before suffering a penalty shoot-out defeat against Croatia. The Chelsea man confirmed the 2022 World Cup would be his last, and interim manager Ramon Menezes has named a younger squad for the upcoming friendly.
Casemiro is the oldest outfield player in the squad at the age of 31. Among the youngsters surrounding him is another Chelsea player, teenager Andrey Santos, who is currently on loan at Vasco da Gama.
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If Casemiro ends up taking over permanently as Brazil captain, questions could well follow at club level. A poll of United supporters had the 31-year-old as the preferred option to take over the United armband if Maguire moves on.
Fernandes’ future as on-field captain was called into question after United lost 7-0 at Liverpool in the Premier League. However, Ten Hag confirmed there were no plans to strip him of the armband, and the former Sporting CP man has continued to captain the side when Maguire – who was named captain during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure – has not been involved in first-team action.
“He’s playing a brilliant season, he’s had a really important role in why we’re in the position where we are, and he’s giving energy to the team – not only running a lot at the highest intensity but the right way and right direction,” United’s manager said
“He’s coaching players, he’s an inspiration, but no-one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, we have to learn, he has to learn and he will, because he’s intelligent. I’m happy to have Bruno Fernandes in the…
Read More: Casemiro given new Brazil role to give Erik ten Hag food for thought at Man Utd 2023-03-23 00:00:00