Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has already announced he will leave the club this summer, with the ambitious Saudi Pro League club planning to lure him to the Middle East.
Al Ittihad are interested in signing Casemiro this summer (Image: Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images)
Al Ittihad manager hopes to lure Casemiro to the Saudi Pro League in the summer after the veteran midfielder agreed to waive an extension clause in his contract with Manchester United.
Casemiro, 34, whose contract at Old Trafford expires this summer, announced in January that he would leave the club at the end of the 2025-26 season. On Wednesday, it was revealed that the Brazil national team and the club had agreed that even if Casemiro starts the required 35 league games, a clause guaranteeing him an extra year will not be triggered.
Speculation has been rife about Casemiro’s next move since he announced his plans to transfer, with the former Real Madrid star expressing his desire to continue playing at an elite level in his farewell statement.
However, ESPN reported that Al-Ittihad are interested in testing Casemiro’s resolve on the issue and could push him to take him to Saudi Arabia.
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The Saudi Pro League, currently in sixth place in the league, are looking to sign another high-profile player after Karim Benzema moved to Al Hilal midway through the season.
The move for Casemiro, who won the Champions League five times during his prestigious spell at Real Madrid, would be a perfect fit in that regard.
However, Casemiro’s potential move will largely depend on the situation with former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho, whose contract with Al Ittihad expires this summer.
The 32-year-old is set to leave Anfield in the summer of 2023 and return to the Middle East. It remains to be seen whether he and the club will reach an agreement on a new contract or whether the former Monaco player will be free to leave via Bosman transfer.
Fabinho’s future could determine whether Al Ittihad make a move for Casemiro (Image: Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
Casemiro has been in good form since confirming his plans to leave Manchester United, with fans chanting “one more year” after his goal in this morning’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa, prompting him to reconsider his decision.
It is thought unlikely that Casemiro will change his mind, but Lenny Yolo admitted his team-mates want him to stay. “Everyone wanted him to stay. He’s a really important player for us,” said the young defender.
“Every day, even in the dressing room, he gains experience that no one else in the team can. He won everything and that helped us a lot, not only during the game, but also off the pitch.”
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