Manchester United have left the door open for Casemiro to remain at Old Trafford beyond this summer – but only if the Brazilian midfielder accepts a significant wage reduction. The 33-year-old arrived at the Theatre of Dreams in 2022 and currently ranks among the club’s top earners.
His existing contract is set to expire at the end of the current campaign, with the Red Devils possessing the option to extend it by a further 12 months. A departure from the Premier League appeared inevitable next summer, with Saudi Arabian clubs expressing keen interest. However, ESPN now claims that a stay has not been completely dismissed – just not on his present terms.
This means United are hesitant to activate the clause in his agreement which would keep him on wages believed to be around £300,000 per week.
Any decision to retain Casemiro beyond 2026 would represent a considerable vote of confidence in Ruben Amorim, who has emphasised his value despite criticism from senior figures.
Red Devils co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been openly critical of the midfielder and suggested that, had he been involved at the time, the signing would not have happened.
Speaking in March this year, Ratcliffe remarked: “If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho.
“Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time. We’ve got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.”
Prior to that interview taking place, it had been suggested that Ratcliffe was so strongly against the deal that he was willing to tear up his contract early. Yet despite deploying him sparingly at the beginning of his reign, Casemiro has become a crucial component of Amorim’s United side.
So far he has featured from the start in five of United’s seven Premier League matches, sitting out one due to a ban following his red card against Chelsea.
Amorim has openly praised the experienced player on multiple occasions and disclosed that he modified his pressing system to maximise his effectiveness.
“We understood that he cannot jump all the time pressing high,” he explained last season. “We need to let him understand and sometimes it is better to put three defenders and let him be the fourth defender and put the wing-backs pressing high.
“These are all things we are understanding and trying to cope with all the criticisms of the team. But the credit is for Casemiro.”
It has been claimed that Amorim highlighted Casemiro in a private chat to Ratcliffe after he excelled in the closing stages of the Europa League last season.
Casemiro found the net in both legs of the semi-final vs Athletic Bilbao, with Amorim quick to ensure Old Trafford bosses know exactly how vital he is to their set-up.
If he does remain in Manchester, Amorim is still primed to enter the market in search of a new midfielder. Carlos Baleba was heavily linked during the summer window – a deal which could be revisited in 2026.