Manchester United midfielder Casemiro was watching as the Red Devils were demolished four goals to nil by Brentford earlier in the season.
Rather than be put off by the prospect of getting into United’s mess, the Brazilian’s stance on coming to Old Trafford was only strengthened.
James Ducker of The Telegraph reports: “Brentford’s defeat, which came just six days after their opening 2-1 home defeat to Brighton, was so bad that there were concerns in some quarters that it might be enough. to convince Casemiro to back off. They needn’t have worried.
“It turned out that Casemiro was watching from his home in Madrid and started sending messages to his agent saying: ‘Tell them I’ll fix it.’ If anything, the debacle seemed to deepen his desire to move to Old Trafford.
“This notion that Casemiro had become ‘obsessed’ with the transfer, as one source put it, was reaffirmed when a United delegation flew to Madrid a few days later to seal the deal.”
Real Madrid officials held a dinner with Casemiro in a last-ditch effort to convince him to stay at the Santiago Bernabéu, but he made it more than clear that he was only interested in moving to the Teatro de los Sueños to Madrid’s disappointment.
The effect has been that Casemiro has dramatically improved United as a team. So far he has more than fulfilled his promise. Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot have been given the freedom to bombard the canals with the certainty that Casemiro is anchored in the back.
The Red Devils are conceding 0.6 goals and 8.4 shots per game on average with Casemiro in midfield versus 1.5 goals and 11.5 shots per game when he is absent.
The team is also averaging 64.1 passes into the final third per game compared to 51.3 without him. The same upward trajectory in numbers is seen in United’s possession, passing accuracy and open crosses in the game.
When United were investigating the 30-year-old, they approached Raphael Varane, who gave his unequivocal support for the move, telling them it was a must-buy.
Varane also told his teammates that they should always look to give Casemiro the ball on the field because he makes things happen and transmits calm.
Ducker adds that Casemiro’s close confidants reveal that at United, the player is happier than at any stage in his illustrious career.
He has adapted to the contemporary English lifestyle like a fish to water and enjoys the chaotic schedule of the Premier League.
Casemiro is particularly close to Marcus Rashford, whom he has taken under his wing and believes can be one of the best players in the world if he is looked after properly.
Casemiro himself came out and said that Rashford can be one of the five best players in the world.
