Casemiro was never the right option — Jamie Carragher

Liverpool legend and former defender, Jamie Carragher has faulted the signing of former Real Madrid star, Carlos Henrique Casemiro by Manchester United.

Reacting to the signing of the Brazilian that happened a summer ago, the Sky Sports pundits stands of the opinion that the midfielder was more of a panic buy by Manchester United than the right option.

The Liverpool legend believes it is only about time before the Red Devils will regret the move for not recruiting a long-term signing for their defensive midfield rather than the £60m fee paid to Real Madrid for Casemiro.

The move to bring in Casemiro to Old Trafford followed a summer transfer window that was marked by Manchester United’s pursuit of Barcelona star, Frenkie de Jong, which ultimately fell through as the midfielder was insistent on staying at the Camp Nou that season.

Jamie Carragher thus believes the move to have Casemiro be the defensive midfield option for the Red Devils is one that could now hurt them in a world where newer and younger defensive midfielders like Moses Caicedo and Declan Rice are on the market.

“Caicedo and Rice are examples of thinking ahead,” Carragher wrote in The Telegraph.

“Going big now to save cash for the next six or seven years in which they will assume their role.

“I never believed Casemiro would be value for money. Not because there is any doubt that he has been a world-class player.

“But because he is at a stage of his career when he cannot not fully repay United’s massive fee.”

“He was a panic buy when he joined a year ago. An ageing, stellar name signed for big money and on a massive salary to appease increasingly disgruntled fans, despite the fact he will need replacing with a similarly massive outlay two years on.”

Carragher’s statement serving as a mirror of the Red Devils’ current summer window, the Old Trafford side are still being linked with a move for Fiorentina’s defensive midfielder, Sofyan Amrabat, a player close to the peak of his career.