The saying in life is that all good things must come to an end, which seems to be the case with Casemiro and Manchester United Football Club.
Very few people would have expected the Brazilian to be part of the first team in 2025/26, but the decision has come as a surprise to Michael Carrick's men.
The 34-year-old found the net again in the win over Brentford at Old Trafford on Monday night, taking his Premier League tally to nine this season.
He now sits second in the club's goalscoring charts this campaign, but will not be able to star for the Red Devils in 2026/27.
It has been confirmed that he will leave the club when his current contract expires this summer, which will no doubt be painful for Manchester fans and staff.
|
Man Utd PL Top Goals (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
The player |
Mathematics |
|
Benjamin Sesko |
10 |
|
Bryan Mbeumo |
9 |
|
Casemiro |
9 |
|
Matheus Kunha |
8 |
|
Bruno Fernandes |
8 |
|
Mason Mount |
3 |
|
Patrick Dorgu |
3 |
|
Mad Diallo |
2 |
Man Utd make £70m check for Premier League star
Casemiro's pending departure will undoubtedly leave a huge hole at the heart of United's squad, which the management desperately needs to address this summer.
Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson has always been touted as one of the top options to replace the Brazilian during the transfer window.
However, his £100m transfer fee, coupled with Manchester City's interest in his signature, could make a potential transfer difficult to pull off.
Anderson is not the only star in the jungle who is currently being looked at before the start of the season, while defender Murillo is another star who is currently being looked at.
According to The Telegraph, the Red Devils have started to work and improve on many defenders as they look to strengthen their ranks. Indeed, they have already reached out and made checks on Murillo as they weigh up a potential move for the Brazilian star.
The report also claims that the 23-year-old has impressed staff behind the scenes at Old Trafford, which could fuel a potential transfer in the summer window.
Any deal would be expensive, with the Reds also looking to land a fee in the region of £70m if they were to offload one of their star players.
Why Murillo could have shades of United's Casemiro
Casemiro's departure is one done from a financial point of view, with the experienced star currently leading the club at the moment.
|
Man Utd Player Salary (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
The player |
Salaries |
|
Casemiro |
£350,000 |
|
Bruno Fernandes |
£300,000 |
|
Matthijs de Ligt |
£195,000 |
|
Matheus Kunha |
£180,000 |
|
Benjamin Sesko |
£160,000 |
|
Harry Maguire |
£150,000 |
|
Luke Shaw |
£150,000 |
|
Mason Mount |
£150,000 |
|
Bryan Mbeumo |
£150,000 |
His form on the pitch in 2025/26 has been impressive, leading to fans calling for the 34-year-old to stay at the club for one more year.
However, it is highly unlikely that the club will reverse their decision to let him leave, increasing the importance of the summer transfer window.
Carrick's recent impact in charge at Old Trafford has allowed the club to almost guarantee qualification for next season's Champions League.
As a result, more funds will be available in the market, which could go hand in hand with the ability to attract top talent to move to Manchester.
Murillo will be one of the players who could be tempted to join the Red Devils this summer, who may have the chance to emulate his compatriot in any transfer.
Like Casemiro, the Forest star is a Brazilian hero with a strong style of play – one that could see him win the hearts of fans, just as the midfielder has this season.
While the pair operate in different roles on the pitch, their performances in the Premier League have shown the quality they possess – in line with their strong workmanlike styles.
The linebacker finished on 54% of the plays he entered, and made 1.4 interceptions per 90 – ranking him in the top 15% of all linebackers in the division.
Such numbers highlight his quality off the ball, which will undoubtedly improve United's defensive department – while he also has similar qualities off the ball, like Casemiro.
However, with the ball, the Forest star impressed in this way, after completing 64% of his shots and making 3.5 successful long balls out of 90.
The aforementioned stats undoubtedly make him an excellent option to play the ball at the back, often making a big impact in attacking areas as his compatriot did in 2025/26.
As a departing midfielder, he has also produced moments of magic in front of goal – as evidenced by his incredible run and long-range strike in the Europa League against Fenerbahce.
While all eyes will be on who United sign as Casemiro's replacement this summer, Murillo's deal could allow the club to have a long-term solution to their defensive injury woes.
£70m would be a huge investment given the need to strengthen the pitch, but it's a move that will see the management secure future world-class talent.
If he can emulate his compatriot's impact at Old Trafford, it could be another smart piece of business and could lead the Red Devils to glory in the near future.
Carrick must bring down Man Utd's 18 passes and become the new Garnacho
Manchester United cemented their place in third place with a 2-1 win over Brentford at Old Trafford.
