Time to Move On: Why Casemiro Mustn’t Be a Starter for Man United

Manchester United enjoyed a headline-grabbing summer in the transfer market, splashing around £216m to bring in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and goalkeeper Senne Lammens. On paper it looks like ambition; in practice, there’s a glaring mismatch between where the money went and where the team still hurts.

Why Casemiro shouldn’t be in the XI

Let me be blunt: picking a 33-year-old Casemiro as a regular starter when the evidence suggests his performance has dipped is daft. He arrived from Real Madrid as a big-money, big-name signing in 2022 — a deal reported at around £60m plus add-ons — and initially delivered. But the Premier League is unforgiving and the last two seasons have shown a decline in mobility and intensity.

Yes, he offers experience and has contributed goals and silverware — the Carabao Cup and FA Cup sit on his CV and he has 17 goals in 128 United appearances — but football evolves. Youngsters such as Kobbie Mainoo are in the building, and the club invested heavily in Manuel Ugarte less than a year ago for the very midfield role that requires bite and tempo. To keep persisting with Casemiro as first-choice is to ignore those investments and the squad’s pressing needs.

Money spent, priorities missed

There’s no denying that recruits like Mbeumo and Cunha were sensible additions — both bring quality and options in attack. But dropping roughly £70m on Sesko, a promising yet unproven striker at the highest level, instead of using that cash to find a younger, energetic midfield engine looks like a risky prioritisation. If Ruben Amorim’s system struggles to get goals from the likes of Mbeumo, Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Joshua Zirkzee, Rasmus Hojlund and Amad, betting on a hefty fee for Sesko won’t be the silver bullet many expect.

The frustration is compounded by the public knowledge that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have been candid about financial constraints, yet £216m was still spent. This window felt like lipstick on a very real structural issue in midfield. This is the clearest example of a transfer strategy out of step with squad reality — they spent big but not where the margins would have actually improved the team now.

Selection questions for Amorim

Managers pick who they trust, and Amorim has kept Casemiro involved regularly despite strong alternatives. That raises questions over tactics and faith. Does the Portuguese coach believe Casemiro’s experience outweighs a loss in tempo? Or is he being conservative while a new era is supposed to be taking shape? Fans will want answers — particularly with Casemiro’s contract due to run out next summer.

There are fine margins in football and you can understand the desire to balance youth with experience, but you cannot cling to the status quo when the evidence suggests it’s costing matches. The midfield is the heartbeat of the team and, as it stands, the pulse is weak.

What should happen next

The sensible route is clear: either phase Casemiro out of the starting XI now and blood the younger options, or start planning decisively for next summer. United have the scaffolding — Mainoo, Ugarte and energetic midfield profiles exist — but the club should have used at least some of this window to secure a long-term replacement to fix build-up play and defensive balance.

There will always be debate about whether to back a young striker or shore up midfield, but given the club’s current composition, the latter would have been the better insurance policy. If those in charge want long-term progress rather than short-term headlines, they’ll admit the mistake and act.

In the meantime, supporters can only hope the old guard doesn’t obstruct the transition. And if you’re tempted to take a punt on who starts when the chips are down, have a look at the betting sites for the odds — the selectors might need reminding where the smart money lies.