Casemiro backs Sir Jim Ratcliffe & Erik ten Hag as Man Utd midfielder returns from injury

Casemiro has backed Sir Jim Ratcliffe to succeed at Manchester United and has claimed the British billionaire will restore the club to the ‘highest possible level’.

Ratcliffe is set to become a minority shareholder in the 20-time English champions when his £1.3bn investment is ratified by the Premier League next month, with Ineos set to take over the football operations at Old Trafford.

The prospective buyer has been making himself visible around the club and has met with the players, staff, fan groups, local politicians and regular journalists, before his purchase of a partial stake in United is officially confirmed in the coming weeks. Casemiro was among the group of players who met Ratcliffe at Carrington three weeks ago and the Brazilian appears confident United will improve under his watch.

“He’s already introduced himself to us,” Casemiro said in a recent interview with CNN. “I think with his winning mentality and his wins in all sports, it’s always very important to have people that want to continue growing.

“With his experience he’ll return Manchester United to the highest possible level. We are very hungry to learn, grow and take the club to the highest place.”

Casemiro made his first appearance since mid-October when he played 81 minutes in Sunday’s FA Cup win over Newport County. The Red Devils put in a solid display as they beat the Welsh side, and it’s hoped with the likes of Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw available, plus the emergence of Kobbie Mainoo, that United will kick on in the second half of the season and ease some of the pressure on Erik ten Hag.

“I’m not the person who decides who should be manager,” Casemiro said, when asked about Ten Hag's future. “We have qualified people to decide that but [Ten Hag] showed last season he can grow Manchester United.”

“Last season we had really good growth and the team was trending upwards. Of course, Manchester United always need more and more and always need to be winning but we showed last season that we are capable of achieving great things.”

“I’m very happy at Manchester United,” the 31-year-old added, amid speculation of a transfer next summer. “As I’ve always said, the fans have always helped me. The club is always good to me.”