£70m Manchester United signing 'in talks' over departure as Fabrizio Romano highlights 'strong interest'

Manchester United via Getty Imag
Manchester United are set for a busy summer in the club’s first transfer window since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority purchase

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has opened talks with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad over a potential move to the club, according to reports in France.

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The former Real Madrid player joined United from the La Liga giants in August 2022, in a deal worth £70m. He signed a four-year contract, meaning his deal at Old Trafford still has two years to run. United normally insert a clause in the club’s favour for an extra season in the majority of their deals. It was an option they took up for the likes of right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and centre-half Victor Lindelof earlier this year but declined to do so in the case of French duo Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial - who are both free agents.

L'Equipe in France report Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad have opened talks with Casemiro over a potential move to the Gulf State this summer. 12 months ago, the Saudi Pro League targeted a number of big players from across Europe and while an exodus of players on the same scale is not expected, it has not stopped some stars being targeted.

The reports come as former United, Marseille, Montpellier and Inter Milan player Laurent Blanc prepares to take charge of Al-Ittihad, with the report from L’Equipe adding that a number of transfers are expected once the 58-year-old - who has managed the likes of France, Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon - is officially appointed.

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Moussa Diaby of Aston Villa is also in discussions over a move, with Yahoo Sport reporting a deal is close. The player only joined Villa from Bayer Leverkusen 12 months ago but has been offered a big-money contract to move to the Middle East. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that a number of clubs from the Saudi Pro League have a strong interest in Casemiro, although no formal offers have been put to the Brazilian as of yet.

Casemiro came under fierce criticism in the latter part of the 2023-24 campaign as United finished eighth in the Premier League, as former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher urged the midfielder to leave Old Trafford this summer. Speaking after the Red Devils’ 4-0 loss against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in May, Carragher said: “I think Casemiro should know tonight that he should only have another three games left at the top level. The next two league games and the cup final, then he should be thinking, I need to go to the MLS or Saudi.

"This has to stop because we are watching one of the greats of the modern time. I always remember the saying 'leave the football before the football leaves you'. The football has left him. At this top level, he needs to call it a day at this level and move. The level of that player, he should not be putting himself through this. He is too good of a player to be putting in a performance like that being laughed at by Crystal Palace. He needs to call it a day."

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Casemiro responded to the criticism, highlighting how he and United had been impacted by injuries last season. He said: "It's hard, especially when it's not an analysis of the whole situation. At the start of the season, I got the trophy of best player of the month, elected by the fans here. Right after that I picked up an injury, a big injury. Came back, then the injury returned, now playing as a centre-back. It is hard - this is a wider analysis, I'm giving you more ample analysis.

"Injured players. I think never at any point of the season the manager had like 25 senior players available. So not only for me, for the players, but also for the manager it's very challenging. For the club it's very challenging. But criticism is a part of football. And I'm always very calm, especially with the criticism. When it's constructive criticism, it's always welcomed. Especially in football, when you've been playing high level for 10 years and you drop your level a little, the criticism is going to come, criticism is always going to come."

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