Paul Scholes claims Man Utd star is ‘as close to Roy Keane’ as he’s seen

Paul Scholes reserved some particularly high praise for Casemiro on Thursday night and claimed the Manchester United midfielder is ‘as close to Roy Keane’ as he’s seen.

The former Real Madrid man returned to the United team for the Europa League first leg against Barcelona in midweek, with Casemiro currently suspended in the Premier League. He put in another accomplished display as the Red Devils drew 2-2 at the Nou Camp ahead of next week’s return meeting at Old Trafford.

Casemiro has played a huge part in United’s revival under Erik ten Hag, and Scholes said he sees similarities with the Brazilian and his old midfield partner. “You can see the difference when he’s not in the team,” the 48-year-old said on BT Sport. “You think of the Arsenal game when he wasn’t there.

“I always talk about having a coach on the football pitch, almost being the manager on the pitch. For Ten Hag, he [Casemiro] is that man. He knows where he wants everybody to be and I’ve said it before but I’ve been a little bit surprised by the quality of his play.

“At Real Madrid it was all about [Toni] Kroos and [Luca] Modric, but his passing forward and awareness of people around him has been fantastic. People say he’s a holding midfield player, I don’t see that. I think he does everything and he’s as close to Roy Keane as I’ve seen.

“As a Man United midfielder you should be involved in everything; you should be able to go forward, to play a pass and defend. I think he’s been fantastic.”

Speaking after the match, Scholes once again underlined the integral role Casemiro plays in the United team. “I can’t tell you how important it is to have that player in the middle of the pitch who is so dominant, stays there, plays the position perfectly,” he said.

“It gives the attacking players freedom. You don’t have to be running back.. well of course you sprint back, but you have that licence to get forward and be creative because you know there’s that solid base [behind you] - a foundation and great experience, played for Brazil and Real Madrid, won so many trophies. It’s just brilliant to know what you have behind you.”