Manchester United have found it difficult in the transfer market as a result of an expensive £70 million mistake that has continued to haunt them. The most glaring concern is indeed alarming deterioration, with Casemiro having gone from an influential midfielder to barely being fit for the team.
Last week, the outspoken FCSB owner, Gigi Becali, publicly berated his team's negative tactics against United in the Europa League. Frustrated, he expressed his anger from his car window, venting his anger at coach Ilias Charalampous for what he perceived as a timid approach.
Perhaps Becali's final frustration was when United introduced Casemiro with just 18 minutes remaining. Normally, the introduction of a five-time Champions League winner would be an act of a desperate team, and yet here it was a representation of United's superiority in Bucharest.
For Casemiro, it was merely his first minutes of action in 2025.
The Brazilian midfielder, so inspirational for Real Madrid, is now warming benches. His cameo against FCSB earlier this season remains his only appearance this year. In the meantime, Casemiro was an unused substitute again on Sunday against Crystal Palace-a situation that has occurred now in seven of the last eight games. Since his catastrophic 64-minute showing against Newcastle, his future at Old Trafford has looked very bleak, with even Saudi Pro League clubs showing very little interest in a move.
This is a precipitous fall for a player of his stature and experience. Still only 32, Casemiro possesses one of the most decorated careers in European football. His signing for United initially gave the team leadership and defensive stability in midfield that it had lacked. But he suffered an alarming dip in form last season, and after a brief resurgence earlier in this campaign, he finds himself firmly out of favour.
United manager Rubén Amorim seems to have reached a similar conclusion: The Premier League now moves too quickly and is physically too demanding for Casemiro. The Brazil midfielder is mostly confined to benchwarmer duty, coming in during the few moments when an outcome is usually already certain. His influence slowly but surely going down, Casemiro burdens United's overpriced venture into the market.
With the summer window fast approaching, this financial and tactical problem is something the Red Devils must find their way out of. A question now lingers: will they be able to move Casemiro, or will they have to take the hit from a call they can't take back?