After Casemiro’s dismal performance in the 4-0 loss against Crystal Palace, Jamie Carragher has urged him to “call it a day” and relocate to Saudi Arabia or the Major League Soccer.
At Selhurst Park, Erik ten Hag’s team suffered their worst defeat of the year and a serious setback to their chances of playing in Europe the following season.
Casemiro, a substitute center defender for a Man United team beset by injuries, had a forgettable evening despite contributing to two of Palace’s goals.
During Monday Night Football on Sky Sport, Carragher gave a harsh evaluation of the Brazilian’s play. The Brazilian was praised by the former Liverpool defender as a “great” of the contemporary period, but he said that “football has left him” and that the former Real Madrid player ought to step down a level this summer.
‘I said at half-time he’s (Ten Hag) got to bring Casemiro off,’ Jamie Carragher said.
‘I know he’s got kids on the bench but I think Casemiro, deadly serious, should know himself tonight as an experienced player that he should only have another three games left at the top level. The next two league games and the [FA] cup final.
‘And he should be thinking “I need to go to the MLS or Saudi”. I’m deadly serious. He’s aging, the people around him they need to tell him this has to stop.
‘We are watching one of the greats of the modern time playing in one of the best midfields we’ve seen who dominated Europe.
‘Him holding, [Toni] Kroos to one side [Luka] Modric to the other was one of the best midfields. Could easily go up against the Barcelona midfield we all loved (with) [Sergio] Busquets, Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta.
‘He’s been an absolute great. I am nowhere near on a level of what that man has achieved. Champions Leagues, playing for Brazil, playing for Real Madrid.
‘But I always remember something when I retired myself, there was a saying I always remember as a footballer, “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.’
Jamie Carragher continued by saying that in an effort to get Casemiro off their books, Man United ought to try paying him off. Casemiro has two years left on his £350,000-per-week contract.
He continued, saying:
‘He will have earned a right few quid, good luck to him. They pay him off and they do some sort of deal but the level of that player he should not be putting himself through this.
‘He’s too good of a player to put in a performance like that and be laughed at by Crystal Palace. He’s not playing Manchester City, he’s not playing Real Madrid, all due to Crystal Palace.
‘A man of that level should not be going through what he’s going through. He needs to call it a day’.
After a brilliant solo run, Michael Olise gave Erik ten Hag’s team the lead and finished past Andre Onana in less than 12 minutes.
Midway through United’s half, the Crystal Palace winger picked up the ball and skipped by Casemiro, who lunged in and crashed to the ground.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s thunderous strike gave Crystal Palace a two-goal advantage five minutes before halftime, and Tyrick Mitchell added a third just after the hour.
Then Casemiro’s evening took a turn for the worse when Daniel Munoz took his possessions away from him.
After 66 minutes, the Colombian sent a pass to Olise, who hammered the ball in to give Palace a four-goal lead for the evening.
