Rock Bottom Before the Reset
At the end of December, it felt like Casemiro’s Manchester United career was slipping away. A flat 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle marked a personal low point, with the Brazilian midfielder struggling badly in a side short on confidence. While Joshua Zirkzee was sarcastically applauded off after just 33 minutes that night, many felt Casemiro would have faced an even harsher reaction had he been substituted.
The fallout was brutal. Casemiro was benched for the next five matches and didn’t feature for a month. At 33, questions swirled about whether his legs were gone and whether his best days were firmly behind him.
A Change in Conditions, Not in Class
Fast forward to now, and Casemiro looks reborn. The difference hasn’t been magic — it’s been context. Improved fitness, a lighter match load thanks to United’s absence from European competition, and a tactical reset have all played their part. Casemiro arrived this season leaner, sharper, and better prepared, having put in a demanding pre-season to meet the physical requirements of Premier League football.
Under Ruben Amorim, his role was punishing, often leaving him exposed in large midfield spaces. But since Michael Carrick took over in January, United have shifted to a more compact 4-4-2 shape. That adjustment has protected Casemiro, reduced the ground he needs to cover, and allowed him to focus on what he does best — reading danger, winning the ball, and choosing his moments.
The numbers tell the story. He’s running slightly less per game but winning more of his duels, with his success rate climbing sharply. With better support around him, Casemiro no longer looks like a firefighter constantly putting out blazes on his own.
Making the Difference at Both Ends
Casemiro’s resurgence hasn’t been limited to defensive work. In attack, he’s enjoying one of the most productive league seasons of his career, with five goals and two assists — many of them decisive. His aerial threat at set-pieces has become a genuine weapon, particularly at the back post, where clever movement and well-drilled blocking by team-mates have helped him lose markers and score crucial goals.
On the ball, his game has also evolved. United now build more patiently, keeping their lines closer together. That has turned Casemiro’s direct passing into a calculated risk rather than a liability. He’s been used intelligently in build-up play, often drifting wide or pushing higher up the pitch to receive the ball under less pressure — a role that mirrors how he thrived alongside Luka Modric and Toni Kroos at Real Madrid.
With United still chasing a Champions League spot and Casemiro set to leave when his contract expires, this late-career revival matters. Not just for the team’s ambitions, but for how he’ll be remembered in England. After months of doubt, Casemiro looks set to bow out on his own terms — not as a fading star, but as a serial winner making one last, meaningful impact.
