Man Utd star forces Jamie Carragher into awkward U-turn | Football | Sport

Jamie Carragher has finally conceded that Manchester United star Casemiro is still capable at the top level, two years after his notorious critique of the Brazilian midfielder. It comes in the wake of Casemiro’s announcement that he will depart from United at the end of this season and his stellar performance in Sunday’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Fulham.

The former Real Madrid mainstay scored the opening goal with a commanding header and assisted Matheus Cunha for United’s second. Casemiro’s display contributed to United securing three consecutive wins under new manager Michael Carrick, a streak in which the 33-year-old has played a pivotal role.

It is a stark contrast to his performances towards the end of the 2023-24 season. Following United’s crushing 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace under Erik ten Hag in May 2024, Carragher called out the Brazilian.

He said: “I think Casemiro should know tonight that he should only have another three games left at the top level. The next two league games and the cup final, then he should be thinking, I need to go to the MLS or Saudi [Arabia].”

“This has to stop because we are watching one of the greats of modern times. I always remember the saying ‘leave the football before the football leaves you’.

“The football’s left him. At this top level, he needs to call it a day at this level and move.”

Two years later, with Casemiro having remained a regular fixture in United’s starting XI, Carragher has admitted he got it wrong. “It is now fair to say the football has not left him,” the pundit said.

“Considering what he’s producing this season in the Premier League, and not just Fulham at home, you think what he did last week against Arsenal away and Manchester City at home. Casemiro is well within his rights to, if he wants to come back at me and say, ‘leave the punditry before the punditry’s left you!’

“He could definitely get one of those back in. Credit to him, he looks like a completely different player. He looks like a different player physically as well.

“Even 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. And whether he let himself go a little bit, or now he’s being ultra professional, physically, he looks completely different.”