Why Casemiro can't play against Liverpool
FT Desk
- Updated: 19 Aug 2022 18:13 BST
- 3 min read
Real Madrid star Casemiro's highly anticipated transfer to Manchester United will not come in time to help the Red Devils in their next, crunch Premier League fixture.
The Brazilian is expected to sign for the club shortly after almost a decade starring for Madrid in La Liga.
Madrid are in line to pocket a fee of around €60m up front for the 31-year-old, as well as a further €10m down the line in bonuses and add-ons should certain conditions in the transfer be met.
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Casemiro will arrive at Old Trafford as one of the world's premier midfielders, with a glittering array of trophies in his collection.
During his time at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu Madrid have lifted five Champions League titles and run out champions of La Liga on three occasions, with the Brazilian one of the cornerstones of a team that has included over the years the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Sergio Ramos.
At United he will find two long-term Blancos colleagues, in Ronaldo and defender Raphael Varane, as well as a club in dire need of a boost after going down to back-to-back Premier League defeats to kick off Ten Hag's tenure.
When will Casemiro make Man Utd debut?
But he will have to wait a little longer before he can join his new team-mates on the pitch.
Reports suggest that even if a deal is struck to make him a United player this weekend, Casemiro will not be able to complete the necessary paperwork in order to be available in Monday's huge Premier League clash with Liverpool.
The player must undergo a medical and then await his work permit before officially signing for the club and, while the latter should be little more than a formality for a player of his prestige and stature, the delay will push his debut back until the following week at the earliest.
United would certainly benefit from his combative talents against their rivals, who have also started the campaign in muted fashion with two draws against Fulham and Crystal Palace.
Ten Hag must instead decide whether to maintain his last midfield pairing of Christian Eriksen and Fred, which was badly overrun against Brentford, or switch up his engine room with Scott McTominay or Donny van de Beek, the only other front-line players in the position at his disposal right now.
