Casemiro’s phone call to Man Utd chief after crushing defeat speaks volumes about him

In the wake of his team’s humiliating loss at Brentford, Erik ten Hag got a peek of the personality Brazilian midfielder Casemiro has brought to Manchester United.

The club that sought to bring him to the Premier League was humiliated 4-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium in August as the five-time Champions League champion watched from his home in Madrid.

Ten Hag’s administration began with a home loss to Brighton seven days earlier. Calling United football director John Murtough was Casemiro’s response. To assure him that he couldn’t wait to start at Old Trafford rather than to admit that he was having second thoughts about leaving Real Madrid.

Frenkie de Jong, the top summer target, might still be fighting over money in Barcelona, but he wasn’t a Real Madrid player going for a big payday. Before Ten Hag gave Casemiro his first Premier League start in the comeback triumph at Everton, he had to wait six weeks. That marked the beginning of a five-game winning streak that has United being spoken about as top-four candidates.

Casemiro’s wild celebration after scoring an equalizer in stoppage time at Chelsea provided United supporters another sight of his ardor for his new team. Prior to agreeing to pay Madrid £60 million up front and a further £10 million in add-ons, United knew what they were receiving. Casemiro’s excellence is demonstrated by his 18 trophies in nine years at the Santiago Bernabeu, 65 appearances for Brazil, and a Copa America trophy.

However, Murtough had first spoken to the midfielder when he was still in negotiations with Barca to try to resolve the contractual impasse that would keep De Jong at the Nou Camp. With what he heard, he was impressed.

That was the beginning of a thorough investigation into the Brazilian’s character and past that persuaded the team that Casemiro was truly excited about the idea of donning the United jersey. Because they believed the players they had sought were more focused on what they could get paid than what they could gain, the Red Devils backed out of a number of deals in the summer.

After Ajax made it apparent they didn’t want to sell, Brazilian winger Antony and Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez followed Ten Hag from Ajax in pressuring the matter.

After initially rejecting United’s request, the Eredivisie champions set them a valuation and the two parties came to an agreement on a deal for Antony that could ultimately result in Ajax earning £86 million.

The forward had warned the Amsterdam team that if they prevented his ideal move, they would have an unhappy player on their hands. Martinez was as adamant.

When United put out a proposal worth more than £57 million when add-ons are considered, they knocked Arsenal out of the running for the 24-year-old player.

On the list of potential targets Murtough had made before Ten Hag arrived, Martinez was one of four left-footed center-backs. Martinez possessed the technical skill and grit he wanted to add to his defense, the Dutchman made that obvious.

As concerns over his long-term future at Old Trafford increase, club captain Harry Maguire will join up with England’s World Cup squad. The combative Argentine is already a cult icon among the Stretford End.

In the span of five days, United will play Aston Villa twice, once away from home in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night and once at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.

Before the domestic season enters a winter slumber for the World Cup, a trip to Fulham is scheduled for the following Sunday. Unai Emery, the former Arsenal manager who left Villarreal to take over when Steven Gerrard was fired, will coach Villa for the first time.

The Spanish player’s most recent encounter with United took place in May 2021, when he led Villarreal to victory in the Europa League final following a thrilling 11-10 victory in a penalty shootout. Only six of the United players who started in Gdansk on that particular night will be eligible for Villa Park.