*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:22, 27 August 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:11, 6 June 2022 (UTC)
Carlos Henrique Casimiro (born 23 February 1992), known as Casemiro,[4] is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Manchester United and the Brazil national team. Known for his tackling, positioning and excellent reading of the game, Casemiro is regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and of his generation.
Formed at São Paulo, where he scored 11 goals in 111 official games, Casemiro moved to Real Madrid in 2013, and also spent 2014–15 on loan at Porto. He was part of the Real Madrid squad that won four Champions League titles in five seasons, from 2014 to 2018. In total he won fifteen major trophies at Real Madrid, including five Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and three FIFA Club World Cups. In 2022, Casemiro moved to Manchester United in England.
Born in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Casemiro was a product of São Paulo's youth system. From the age of 11 upwards, he acted as captain to its sides;[5][6] he was known as "Carlão" – an augmentative form of his first name in Portuguese – early on, and would be called up for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[7]
Casemiro made his Série A debut on 25 July 2010, in an away loss against Santos. He scored his first goal as a professional on 15 August, helping to a 2–2 draw with Cruzeiro Esporte Clube.[8]
Casemiro made his La Liga debut on 20 April 2013, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 home win over Real Betis.[13] On 2 June, he scored his first goal in Europe, opening the reserves' 4–0 win over AD Alcorcón at the Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium;[14] eight days later, the move was made permanent for four years and a fee of R$18.738 million.[15][16][17]
Porto
Casemiro was loaned to Porto on 19 July 2014, in a season-long loan.[18] He totalled 41 games overall for the Portuguese side, scoring four goals,[19] including a free kick on 10 March 2015 in a 4–0 home win over Basel in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.[20]
Return to Real Madrid
On 5 June 2015, Casemiro returned to Real Madrid who activated his buyback clause,[21] and two months later his contract was extended until 2021.[22] On 13 March of the following year, he scored his first competitive goal for the Merengues, heading home an 89th-minute corner kick by Jesé in a 2–1 victory at UD Las Palmas.[23]
Casemiro scored four goals in 25 matches in the 2016–17 campaign, helping his team win the league title for the first time in five years.[27][28] He then scored a long-range strike in the Champions League final against Juventus, helping his side to a 4–1 victory;[29] he again found the net on 8 August 2017, putting his team ahead in an eventual 2–1 victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Super Cup.[30]
During the 2017–18 Champions League, Casemiro made 12 appearances while scoring one goal,[31] as Madrid won their third consecutive and 13th overall title in the competition.[32]
In August 2021, he extended his contract until 2025.[34] A year later, Casemiro was named Man of the Match, as Real Madrid defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2–0 for their fifth UEFA Super Cup title.[35]
Manchester United
On 19 August 2022, Real Madrid and Manchester United announced that they had reach an agreement for the transfer of Casemiro.[36][37] Three days later, he signed a four-year contract with the English side, with an option for an additional year's extension.[38] The deal was reportedly worth £60 million, plus £10 million in add-ons.[39] He was unveiled on the same day at Old Trafford to the fans prior to Manchester United's 2–1 victory over Liverpool.[40] He made his debut for the club when he came on as a substitute in a Premier League win away at Southampton on 27 August 2022.[41]
Casemiro made his debut for the Brazil senior side on 14 September 2011, in a 0–0 draw against Argentina, aged just 19.[44] He was named by manager Dunga in the Brazilian squad for the 2015 Copa América, but did not play any matches in the quarter-final exit in Chile.[45]
On 5 May 2016, he was named among the 23-man list for the Copa América Centenario to be held in the United States.[46]
In May 2019, he was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2019 Copa América on home soil.[49] In the final group game at the Arena Corinthians against Peru, he scored his first international goal to open a 5–0 victory, but was also sent off for two yellow cards and suspended from the next match.[50] He started in Brazil's 3–1 victory over Peru in the 2019 Copa América Final on 7 July, at the Maracanã Stadium.[51]
He was named to the 2021 Copa América squad on 9 June 2021.[52] In Brazil's third group match on 23 June, he scored the match–winning goal following a Neymar corner in injury time, to help his team defeat Colombia 2–1.[53] On 10 July, he started in his nation's 1–0 defeat to rivals Argentina in the final.[54]
Style of play
"For the balance of the team, he is without a doubt [Real Madrid's] most important player ... He has changed the face of Madrid."
Casemiro mainly plays as a defensive midfielder,[56] although he has also been deployed in a box-to-box role in the centre of the pitch,[57][58] or even as a centre-back on occasion.[59] While he is not particularly talented or skilful from a technical standpoint[60][61][62] (although he was able to improve in this area under manager Zinedine Zidane during their time at Real Madrid together),[63] Casemiro is an intelligent, physically strong, mobile, aggressive, and hard-tackling midfielder, with an extremely high work-rate.[63][58][64][65] While he is mainly known for his ability to provide balance to his teams by supporting his more offensive-minded teammates defensively, and distributing the ball to them accurately after winning back possession, he is also a well-rounded midfielder, who possesses a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, and reliable distribution, as well as an ability to get forward with his runs off the ball, or start attacks with his passing. These characteristics also enable him to contribute offensively, or even score goals, in addition to breaking up plays.[58][66][67][68][69][70] Moreover, his quick reactions, as well as his excellent positional sense, ability to read the game, and good anticipation, enable him to excel in a holding midfield role in front of the defence, by cutting out counter-attacks and shielding the back-line.[58][63][71][72][73]
Often described as a "destroyer" in the media,[74] he has drawn praise from pundits for his energetic and combative style of play,[75][76][77] as well as his tactical awareness and abilities as a ball winner, which enable him to cover ground, track back, and press opponents.[66][70][72][78][79][80] His tenacity on the pitch, exemplified by his fierce challenges and stamina,[81] have led Marca to nickname him "The Tank."[82] In addition to his footballing abilities, he also stands out for his competitive spirit, mentality, consistency, and determination on the pitch.[63][83] Despite maintaining a good disciplinary record, he has, however, also come into criticism in the media at times over his excessively aggressive challenges on the pitch.[84] Casemiro's playing style has drawn comparisons with that of former Real Madrid defensive midfielder Claude Makélélé,[63] as well as compatriot Toninho Cerezo.[68]
^ abGatto, Riccardo (31 December 2011). "San Paolo, Cunha: "Casemiro? Al momento..."" [San Paolo, Cunha: "Casemiro? At the moment..."] (in Italian). tuttomercatoweb.com. Retrieved 29 September 2019.