Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was tight-lipped when asked on Friday about the expected arrival of Casemiro, who is reportedly set to join the Red Devils over the next few days. Ten Hag has been trying to secure the addition of a new central midfielder since the end of last season and is believed to have turned to Casemiro after missing out on the signings of Frenkie de Jong and Adrien Rabiot.
A deal to see Casemiro make the switch to Old Trafford could reportedly be wrapped up by as early as Friday evening, with a formal agreement between all parties understood to be all but sealed. Ten Hag delivered a typically guarded response when quizzed on the situation in Friday’s press conference, though, as the Dutchman refused to give anything away with regards to his next move in the transfer window.
“I’m not gonna answer [on Casemiro], I can’t tell you anything,” said Ten Hag, who has already negotiated the additions of Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen over the course of this summer.
Casemiro’s four-year contract at United is set to increase his existing salary by a significant amount, but reports claiming that his wage packet will be doubled are understood to be wide of the mark. The Red Devils are set to pay Real Madrid an initial transfer fee of around £51million in exchange for the Brazilian midfielder, while another £8.5m is believed to have been included in the deal in the form of performance-related add-ons.
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The player’s next step will be to complete a medical over the weekend before securing a visa and signing on the dotted line in the not-too-distant future. He will not be available to make his United debut in Monday’s crunch Premier League match against Liverpool, though, with the deadline to register him in time to play in the fixture having passed on Friday.
Casemiro’s arrival will certainly solve one of the many issues facing Ten Hag over the course of this season, with the United boss still believed to be in the market to solve a handful of problem positions before next month’s all-important deadline. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Casemiro had told the Spanish giants of his desire to join United earlier on Friday, with the midfielder set to no longer be considered for selection at the Bernabeu until the deal is done.
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“I have spoken with Casemiro, he wants to try a new challenge and we understand his decision,” Ancelotti told reporters.
“Replacement? We have signed [Aurelien] Tchouameni and he’s one of the best on the market. Then we have [Toni] Kroos and [Eduardo] Camavinga. Yesterday I realised [it] was a real thing but my plans won’t change.
“If he goes there is no doubt about the respect and affection that exists for him here. If someone as nice and serious and professional as Casemiro leaves then you are sad, but you understand and we respect him and his decision.”
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