Following Manchester United’s embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, star midfielder Casemiro came under heavy criticism after his dismal showing.
Casemiro was signed by United from Real Madrid in a deal that was reportedly worth £70m, with manager Erik Ten Hag at the time hailing the Brazillian as "the cement between the stones" in midfield.
However, since he arrived at the club, the 32-year-old has struggled to replicate the form that saw him become a household name in world football during his nine-year-long spell with the Spanish giants.
His struggles in the colours of United took a turn for the worse on Sunday. The hard-tackling midfielder had a game to forget after making two blunders that led to Liverpool scoring two first half goals.
His error-ridden performance saw him substituted at half-time by Ten Hag as he tried to bring some stability in midfield.
His poor performance has continued to draw the ire of United supporters on X. @CallMePov said both the midfielder and Ten Hag should have left United in the off season.
“Casemiro misplacing crazy amount of passes isn't tactical. Getting bullied off the ball wasn't tactical. Giving up on the ball isn't tactical. Both Ten Hag and Casemiro should have gone in the summer, it doesn't have to be one or the other to blame”.
THAT is tactical.
Casemiro misplacing crazy amount of passes isn't tactical.
Getting bullied off the ball wasn't tactical.
Giving up on the ball isn't tactical.
Both Ten Hag and Casemiro should have gone in the summer, it doesn't have to be one or the other to blame.
While @Ntando_Many said Casemiro was finished at highest level and suggested the midfielder should already be playing in the Saudi Pro League.
“Casemiro is finished. How he is is not in Saudi is beyond my understanding,” he posted on X.
Casemiro is finished. How he is is not in Saudi is beyond my understanding .
— Biza_Many (@Ntando_Many) September 1, 2024
Pundit Jamie Carragher said seeing Casemiro struggle against Liverpool was sad to see.
“He's had such a great career and won everything you can possibly win, and it is a sad sight seeing what he's going through out there,” Carragher was quoted by MailOnline.
United captain Bruno Fernandes however, has defended Casemiro, stating that there was no need to point fingers adding that it was all part of football.
"When you concede a goal, you can't just point at one mistake. What's the point in saying Casemiro lost the ball or Kobbie (Mainoo) lost the ball? They lost the ball because they wanted to be brave. It's part of football. Don't make it individual.
"Casemiro is more experienced than me. I don't need to tell him anything, he knows what football is about,“ Fernandes said according to SPORTbible
Following the outrage on social media directed at her husband, Casemiro’s wife Anna Mariano hit back at critics by posting the star’s impressive trophy cabinet on Instagram.
IOL Sport