Gary Neville has been proven wrong after Manchester United’s win over Newcastle.
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has been left with egg on his face after changing his opinion on Casemiro. The former right-back initially had huge question marks over the signing of the Brazil international.
Man Utd news: Gary Neville has been proven wrong about Casemiro (Image: GETTY/SKY SPORTS)
Casemiro has proven to be one of United’s best signings in recent years. After failing to land Frenkie de Jong last summer, the Red Devils splashed out on Casemiro.
United paid an initial £60million with a potential £10m in add-ons. The deal was questioned due to the player’s age, with a five-year contract handed out despite him turning 31 in February.
Shortly after Casemiro signed, Neville claimed it showed a scattergun approach from the club’s owners the Glazers after missing out on preferred targets. The pundit said Casemiro was given far too long a contract.
Speaking in August, Neville said on Sky Sports: “Every other club is really precise, you don’t see them bouncing around like a pinball in the transfer market, from one player to the other. It’s De Jong, to [PSG’s Adrien] Rabiot and then it ends up being Casemiro on a phenomenal contract that will cost the club £160m.
“I have to say I think he will do well for the club for a couple of years, Casemiro. But someone in two years’ time is going to pick up a player that is going to be beyond his best years, on £20m a year, that they can’t shift.
“That might be Erik ten Hag, that might be a new manager, that might be new owners. There is a large element of desperation in the signing because a five-year contract for a 30-year-old should not happen. When you’re desperate you pay over the odds, I suppose.”
However, Neville has conceded he was wrong. Casemiro put in a man-of-the-match display in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle.
Man Utd news: Casemiro played a big part in the Carabao Cup final win (Image: GETTY)
He scored the opener as United ended their six-year wait for a trophy. And Neville admitted he had was wrong to doubt him.
He said on commentary: “Did he [Casemiro] come to the club for the holidays or the money? Absolutely not. He was exceptional.”
Neville’s former team-mate Roy Keane was also full of praise for Casemiro. He commented: “He’s amazing and you have to get up close to him and see how good he is.
“He now understands the English game and if you look at the players at United, it looks like it is the first trophy that they have won, and these players are used to winning these trophies.”
Erik ten Hag praises four players who helped Manchester United end trophy drought
Lisandro Martinez helped end Man United’s trophy drought against Newcastle and was lauded by Erik ten Hag at Wembley.
Erik ten Hag lauded Lisandro Martinez for the impact he has had on Manchester United since his arrival from Ajax.
Martinez started in United’s 2-0 League Cup final win over Newcastle as the club secured their first trophy since the Europa League in May 2017.
United signed Martinez from Ajax for £55.3million in July and he has overcome a chastening start to establish himself as a cult hero among United fans.
Martinez lifts the League Cup
Antony followed Martinez to United from Ajax, having won two Eredivisie titles with Ten Hag, and the United manager believes United have benefited from recruiting players accustomed to lifting silverware.
“Before the game you asked me about the influence of Casemiro and Rapha Varane – they know how to win trophies – look at all the Champions League wins they had,” Ten Hag said.
“But I think Martinez – I had him in Ajax, won trophies with him – the same with Antony. You need that personality and typical character in your squad to win in the end. Martinez is definitely one of them.
“You can count on him and you can rely on him and he showed that again today. That bond together with Rapha is really strong. As a manager on the sidelines, you are composed and can have confidence they will sort it out.”
Ten Hag was filmed dancing with Martinez and Antony as United savoured the triumph with their matchgoers after the final whistle and promised to showcase it again if they are similarly successful in the future.
“We have a history together, Licha and Antony,” Ten Hag explained. “In Amsterdam, we did some dancing and I hope we can do it even more in the future.
“Therefore we have to invest, we have to sacrifice, we have to suffer every day to win trophies.”
Source: express.co.uk; manchestereveningnews.co.uk
