Brazil star Casemiro set for shock Man Utd exit with two clubs ready to pounce

Tom Weber

• Updated: 10 Sep 2025 03:55 CDT
• 4 min read

News

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is expected to depart in 2026, and two Brazilian clubs are ready to do battle for his signature.

The 33-year-old Brazil international is under contract until next summer. Although Man Utd have the option to extend his contract by a further season, it is quite possible that they will opt not to exercise it in order to shift his massive $13.6 million annual net wage.

Indeed, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano recently announced that he fully expects Casemiro to depart Man Utd in 2026, with many in the industry feeling the same.

In recent years, with the midfielder increasingly showing his age, there has been a growing expectation that the Brazil international will end up in Saudi Arabia for one last big contract before retirement.

However, it seems that it is not a given that Casemiro will head to the Middle East next year. According to journalist Jorge Nicola, two Brazilian clubs are looking to bring the former Real Madrid superstar home.

Flamengo, Palmeiras want Casemiro

Nicola claims that Flamengo, arguably the winners of the summer transfer window, and Palmeiras are keeping a close eye on Casemiro's situation with a view to potentially pouncing on his availability next year.

These two giants of the Brazilian game would certainly be able to offer the midfielder a lucrative contract, as they were the only Serie A clubs to bank over $200 million in revenues in 2024, according to Sportsvalue. Both have been profitable in recent years.

However, there are doubts about whether Casemiro would be willing to join either Flamengo or Palmeiras, the city rivals of boyhood club Sao Paulo, who still hold a special place in his heart.

Whether a return to his favourite side is possible remains to be seen as Sao Paulo have posted 'concerning' losses over the past few years. Nicola adds that the Saudi interest can't be discounted, with Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr said to be keen.

Casemiro's future is likely to be a topic until the World Cup next summer.

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