'The best example' - Amorim says Manchester United star 'changed his mind' and might not be sold this summer
Man Utd will focus on player sales in the summer transfer window but one star might now stay at the club.
Ruben Amorim admits he has been forced to 'change his mind' on Casemiro and now views the Brazilian as a key part of his Manchester United squad.
The 33-year-old only featured in five of Amorim's first fifteen matches in charge of the club but has now played in 13 of their last fifteen matches across all competitions. Casemiro was rested for the recent Premier League matches against Newcastle and Wolves after he played a crucial role in their epic Europa League comeback win over Lyon.
Casemiro was available for transfer last summer and was initially expected to leave the club at the end of the season, but could now remain at Old Trafford in his rejuvenated role. United would still entertain any offer for their highest earner this summer, though there is an increasing chance he will remain at the club.
Casemiro has changed Amorim's mind
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the weekend clash with Bournemouth, Ruben Amorim cited Casemiro as an example of a player who had changed his mind this season.
"Everything can happen," he told reporters. "Casemiro is the best example. He wasn’t playing and then you see the last games he’s having a part, he’s performing quite well, he’s playing all the time, I like to change my mind, if they change my mind I like that, I want to put the best players in my team."
United will also have decisions to make on their loan players this summer, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia all faced with uncertain futures at the club. It is unclear whether Aston Villa will trigger their option to buy Rashford for £40 million, while Chelsea have an obligation to buy Sancho for a fee of at least £20 million or pay a £5 million penalty fee.
Asked if those players could be reintegrated into the first-team squad, Amorim added: "All the players that are on loan will return and then the club will decide what to do at the end of the season. Of course, the talent of Rashford, of Antony, they have the talent and have to put it on the team. The best thing for us is for them to perform and they are performing."