In his early days at Manchester United, the Brazilian midfielder appeared weary and unsteady in midfield. Fast forward to now, and Casemiro has truly transformed his game. As he nears the end of his contract at Old Trafford this season, he’s poised to depart on a high note. What led to this remarkable turnaround for the veteran?
During Ruben Amorim’s tenure as United’s head coach from November 2024 to January 2026, Casemiro was tasked with a physically demanding role on the pitch.
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However, his rigorous pre-season training has been instrumental in meeting the physical demands this season, resulting in a visibly fitter and stronger midfielder.
“Pre-season [is] a time to really grind, and really do some real work, then during the season you can focus more on the games themselves,” he remarked about his summer preparations.
Since taking over as head coach in January from the dismissed Amorim, Michael Carrick has enhanced the playing conditions for Casemiro. By shifting from Amorim’s high-pressing 5-2-3 formation to a more compact 4-4-2 setup, Carrick has minimized the distances Casemiro needs to cover.
Under Amorim, Casemiro often faced the challenge of defending expansive areas on his own. [BBC]
In contrast, Carrick’s tactical approach provides much better protection for Casemiro, capitalizing on his strengths. [BBC]
It’s worth noting that while United has faced opponents who tend to dominate possession, Casemiro’s average running distance under Carrick is 10.3km per 90 minutes, slightly lower than the 10.7km he managed under Amorim.
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In wide positions, especially during the 2-0 victory over Manchester City on January 17, the full-back, winger, and striker would come together to apply pressure, assisting the nearest United midfielder. This collective effort reduced the solo defensive responsibilities on Casemiro, enhancing his ability to regain possession.
This theme of conserving energy and maximizing efficiency continues in his dueling stats under Carrick. Casemiro has averaged 9.5 duels per 90 minutes, down from 12.6 under Amorim, but his success rate has improved from 51% to 58%.
Offensively, Casemiro has made a significant impact this season, netting five goals and providing two assists in the Premier League, just one goal short of his most prolific league campaign to date.
With more non-penalty goals than Viktor Gyokeres, Mohamed Salah, and Bukayo Saka, Casemiro’s contributions have been vital in keeping United’s Champions League qualification ambitions alive.
Read more about how Casemiro has revitalized his career at Man Utd here.