How Man Utd could line up with Casemiro

Manchester United have signed five-time Champions League winner Casemiro from Real Madrid in a bid to boost their ailing midfield this season and beyond.

Even though he turned 30 six months ago, the Brazilian destroyer has signed a four-year contract with the option of an extra year until 2017, making this a long-term investment for United.

Only Paul Pogba, Harry Maguire, Romelu Lukaku and Jadon Sancho have ever arrived at Old Trafford for bigger transfer fees than Casemiro does now.

Key in his motivation to move on from Real Madrid this summer was the pursuit of a new challenge after winning everything multiple times over in the Spanish capital.

“My cycle was over,” he said of his time at the Bernabeu. “I wanted to live a new challenge, try a different league and a different culture. I haven’t won anything [in England]. I want to help there as I helped here. I’m going full of hope. I am joining the biggest club in England.”

Casemiro was introduced to the United fans on the Old Trafford pitch ahead of Monday night’s vital Premier League win over Liverpool – in similar fashion to how former Real teammate Raphael Varane was unveiled before a clash with Leeds this time last year.

His experience alone is enough for United fans to get excited, with attention now turning to just how he might fit into Erik ten Hag’s team.

Casemiro is the kind of accomplished all-action defensive midfielder that United haven’t had – excluding deep-lying play-makers like Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick – since…probably Own Hargreaves. Failing that, maybe even Roy Keane.

Against weaker opponents, his presence as a sole defensive midfielder in the ‘number six’ role could give United more creative freedom higher up the pitch to break down stubborn low blocks.

That way, Ten Hag would be able to get both Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen into their favoured attacking midfield roles simultaneously.

Alternatively, Donny van de Beek could get a chance in front of Casemiro and next to either Fernandes or Eriksen – the kind of more advanced position the boss thinks he is best suited for and in which he previously thrived at Ajax.

Potential lineups:

Casemiro (DM) – Christian Eriksen (AM) – Bruno Fernandes (AM)

Casemiro (DM) – Donny van de Beek (AM) – Bruno Fernandes (AM)

Casemiro (DM) – Christian Eriksen (AM) – Donny van de Beek (AM)