Jamie Carragher sends message to Casemiro amid sparkling Man Utd form

Jamie Carragher memorably told Casemiro that his career at the top level was over in May 2024, but admits that the Brazilian is shining in the Premier League after his latest impressive performance.

The 33-year-old scored the opener and provided a superb assist for Matheus Cunha’s second in Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Fulham on Sunday.

The Brazil international has been a regular in the starting XI this season, firstly under Ruben Amorim and now under Michael Carrick.

The interim manager has stuck to a midfield three of the former Real Madrid man, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes, which has produced three wins from three games so far.

Casemiro’s contract expires at the end of this season and he has confirmed that he will be leaving Old Trafford in the summer, although it now looks like he will be going out on a high, which was not the case in 2024.

Carragher watched Crystal Palace beat the Red Devils 4-0 and memorably said of Casemiro: ‘I always remember the saying “leave the football before the football leaves you”. The football has left him. At this top level, he needs to call it a day at this level of football and move.’

The Liverpool legend has now accepted he was wrong and the midfielder has turned things around impressively, partly down to getting himself into better physical shape.

‘I think what Casemiro has done at Manchester United, he’s done the perfect type of thing you want from a signing,’ Carragher told Sky Sports.

‘His first season was fantastic, so everyone thinks he’s a great player and of course he is a great player. And his last season he’s going out on a high so he’ll be remembered really well.

‘I think the middle part of his time at Manchester United was a bit of a struggle for him. But there’s no doubt he’s bounced back.

‘It is now fair to say that the football has not left him considering what he’s producing this season in the Premier League and not just Fulham at home. What he did last week against Arsenal away and Manchester City at home.’

The 48-year-old even accepted that he would have to take any retaliation from the Manchester United star on the chin.

‘Casemiro is well within his rights, if he wants to come back at me and say:”leave the punditry before the punditry has left you,” he could definitely get one of those in,’ he admitted.

Carragher added: ‘Listen, credit to him. He looks a completely different player. He looks a different player physically as well.

‘When I said that, you looked at him and he looked like an old man coming to the end of his time as a player.

Whether he let himself go a bit and now he’s been ultra professional, physically looks completely different.’

Casemiro’s summer departure was announced ahead of the win at Arsenal last weekend, with Carrick saying: ‘I think the announcement for Case was for clarity as much as anything, it was decided anyway before I arrived so it’s not just a knee-jerk kind of decision.

‘The type of personality, the character that he is, I think it shows with his performance last week, where he is mentally and how much it means for him to be here and to finish this season strong.

‘I’ve already had that conversation with him and he’s desperate to do well and finish well. It’s good to see, so I’ve got no doubt about him at all.’