Jamie Redknapp has named the Manchester United star who should have left the club in January.
Ruben Amorim offloaded three first-team players during the January transfer window, with Marcus Rashford, Antony and Tyrell Malacia all leaving on loan.
But ex-England midfielder Redknapp was surprised to see Casemiro remain at Old Trafford after the window closed following his difficult spell in Manchester.
The Brazilian legend won five Champions League trophies at Real Madrid but has struggled at United and seen his playing time reduced since Ruben Amorim took over in November.
Casemiro was linked with a move to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr last month, while ex-United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was said to be interested in bringing him to Fenerbahce.
But the 32-year-old ended up staying put and was even handed a rare started on Sunday as depleted Manchester United took on Tottenham.
Speaking before the Premier League clash, Redknapp told Sky Sports: ‘Last time Casemiro played in the Premier League was against Newcastle and I think he was taken off at half time.
‘He was struggling, him and Christian Eriksen were getting outnumbered. He’s been thrust into that position again.
‘I thought he might leave Manchester United in the January window – he’s found it hard there. He’s been a great midfielder over the years but the Premier League is tough and it’s fast.
‘Today he’s going to have to make sure he moves his feet well, and doesn’t go lunging into tackles. He’s got to use all of his experience.’
Amorim appeared to effectively end Casemiro’s Manchester United career in January, admitting he cannot meet the ‘intensity’ required.
‘We understand that Casemiro has other things nowadays,’ the former Sporting Lisbon boss Amorim said.
‘The intelligence he has, understanding the game, understanding where the ball is going to fall but we’re in a league that I can see, even in European competitions, the difference in intensity is big.
‘And so, I feel that this team also needs players with a very high intensity. And sometimes we don’t have that and sometimes that difference in characteristic can lead one player or another to play.
‘Even the fact that the group has a certain characteristic as a group. I needed some players in certain positions with a slightly different pace.
‘But we all know the quality Casemiro has and everything he won. And so, I have nothing to say about that. It’s just a choice.’
But Casemiro started at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday as Amorim was forced to field a hugely weakened team due to a number of absences.
Rio Ferdinand, the Manchester United legend, said Casemiro should have left in January after being repeatedly overlooked by Amorim.
Discussing Casemiro’s situation, Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: ‘Is the player happy to be on the bench?
‘I don’t think Casemiro will be happy. At any point in his career he’s never been on the bench. If they get an offer they require, that they want, I don’t think it will be something that will be difficult to happen.
‘If he wants to go and play football, who are we to stand in his way at this stage of his career.’
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