Casemiro to leave Manchester United, Fernandes weighing future at the club

Manchester United have confirmed that midfielder Casemiro will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires.

The announcement brings to a close the Brazilian’s three-year spell at Old Trafford.

Casemiro, 33, joined United from Real Madrid in the summer of 2022 in a deal worth £70m.

Since his arrival, he has made 146 appearances for the club across all competitions and was a key figure during his first campaign in English football.

One of his standout moments came in February 2023, when he scored the opening goal in United’s Carabao Cup final victory over Newcastle.

That season ended with United finishing third in the Premier League and lifting their first trophy in six years, with Casemiro also later winning the FA Cup with the club.

However, his role diminished in subsequent seasons, and last year he was referenced by new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe when discussing players he felt were “not good enough” and “overpaid” as part of a wider critique of the squad.

In a statement, Casemiro said he would “carry Manchester United throughout my entire life” and stressed that his focus remains firmly on the remainder of the season.

He added that there were “many more memories to create” and that the team still has “a lot to fight for together”.

Casemiro will now look to end his United career on a positive note over the final four months of the campaign, as the club continues to compete domestically and in Europe while planning for a summer of further squad changes.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are planning talks with captain Bruno Fernandes about his future ahead of the World Cup, with club executives keen to make clear they want the midfielder to remain at Old Trafford for at least another season.

Fernandes, who turns 31 this year, was close to a move to Al Hilal last summer and is expected to attract further interest at the end of the campaign.

While United are prepared to allow Fernandes to decide his next step, their preference is to retain him during what is shaping up to be another transitional summer, with a new permanent manager set to replace Ruben Amorim.

Fernandes is under contract until 2027, with an option for an additional year that could keep him at the club until June 2028.