Casemiro waved goodbye to his Old Trafford faithful for the last time on Sunday afternoon, but the Brazil international could not hide his emotions. He was seen looking visibly emotional as he bid a tearful farewell to the Manchester United fan, who will join the club in 2022. And he was so choked up that he skipped a farewell press conference scheduled for later.
During his time at United, Casemiro was part of the team that won the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024. It hasn’t always been perfect, but Casemiro has enjoyed a resurgence in recent months under manager Michael Carrick and has been a big influence in the Red Devils’ bid to qualify for the Champions League.
Casemiro was scheduled to speak to members of the media after the on-pitch ceremony, but the former Real Madrid ace withdrew at the last minute. This decision raised eyebrows in the media room, but all was revealed later when it was announced that Casemiro was too emotional and did not host the press conference.
The iconic midfield anchor was said to have struggled to contain himself and did not believe he could be consistent enough. Instead, the 34-year-old declined to play, but that will not affect his relationship with the fans who spent the afternoon shouting his name against Nottingham Forest.
He wrote on Instagram: “There are places in life we pass through… and then there are places that become part of us. Manchester will forever be my home. A huge thank you to the city, the club and all our supporters.”
“The last four years have been unforgettable and filled with moments that my family and I will carry with us for the rest of our lives. There are not enough words to describe the happiness and warmth we felt here. Thank you for all the cheers, for all the memories, and for making us feel at home from day one. Forever the Red Devils.”
Asked about parting ways with Casemiro, manager Michael Carrick told Sky Sports: “Casemiro has been a very good player for a long time. We appreciate everything he’s done, especially since I’ve been here. “In football, things come to an end and you have to evolve and adapt. There have been some great players who have left the club during my time here. It’s a challenge, but I’m grateful for everything he’s done.”
United have guaranteed Champions League qualification with their recent victory over Liverpool and comfortably secured third place, meaning they have nothing on the line heading into the final few games. Michael Carrick is expected to be given the job full-time after an impressive interim period.
At the end of the season he said: “We wanted to finish on a good note. We were able to be in a good position and come into the day in front of our supporters. We wanted to win the game and it was a bit difficult for us at times, but some of the football was great and I thought we could have won by a wider margin. It was a good day to win the game and see the atmosphere in the stadium was special.”
