Casemiro to leave Man United after season

Manchester United have confirmed Casemiro will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season, ending a stint that began with trophies and later became tied to the club’s wider cost cutting push.

Signed from Real Madrid for £70m in 2022, the Brazil midfielder has made 146 appearances and won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup at Old Trafford. He scored the opening goal in the 2023 Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle, a peak moment in his first season in England.

Casemiro said he is focused on finishing strongly, while making clear how he feels about the club. “I will carry Manchester United with me throughout my entire life,” he said. “It is not time to say goodbye; there are many more memories to create during the next four months. We still have a lot to fight for together; my complete focus will, as always, remain on giving my everything to help our club to succeed.”

His future has been a talking point for months, especially after co owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe publicly pointed to the wage bill as part of the problem at United and said some inherited players were “not good enough” and “overpaid”. The club have now removed any uncertainty by confirming the additional year option will not be activated.

Casemiro’s form dipped sharply in the season after that early success, as United’s midfield struggled and his performances came under heavy scrutiny. In May 2024, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher summed up the moment by saying: “leave football before football leaves you”.

This season has brought a clearer response on the pitch. Casemiro has been a regular starter, missing only two league matches through suspension, and has remained a key presence as United try to salvage the campaign. With the contract call now public, he can speak to potential suitors ahead of the summer, while United plan their midfield rebuild with their highest earner moving off the books.