Vinicius Souza names Manchester United star as best defensive midfielder in the world

It has been a terrible season by Casemiro’s usual standards, although his reputation in world football still clearly precedes him.

Casemiro is one of the many players that need to be moved on at the end of the season. It doesn’t help that we are already light in terms of defensive midfielders, but the Brazilian’s performances this season have seen him go from being a key player to a liability.

Still, we can’t forget the form Casemiro showed last season and his consistency down the years as a Madrista. It’s just time to accept that we need change.

Casemiro won five Champions League titles during his time at Real Madrid – and we must ask ourselves if the La Liga giants would really cash in on such a player if he wasn’t past his best.

Sheffield United midfielder Vinicius Souza still believes Casemiro is the pinnacle when it comes to ‘number sixes’, even if the 32-year-old has performed abysmally this season.

“You know, for me, (Casemiro is) the best player in the world,” Souza told the Premier League’s official YouTube channel.

“Yeah definitely (I model my game on him). For me Casemiro, is the best midfield player in the world, in the tackle, everything. OK, I like (Manchester City’s) Rodri with the ball. But, in that position with the tackles and (being a) strong guy, Casemiro is the best.”

Brazilian bias or not?

Subscribe to the Stretty News podcast Strettycast for weekly episodes on Manchester United. You can also sign up to the ad-free Stretty Newsletter. Get the Stretty News verdict on all matters Manchester United.