Casemiro’s renaissance in 2025-26 has been clear for all to see.
Whether it’s due to change in diet, a change in system, or Manchester United controlling more matches, the Brazilian looks like the Casemiro of old.
He’s been at his current level since the start of the season. People are just simply playing more attention because of Man Utd’s upturn in form under Michael Carrick.
Casemiro brings a unique, calming quality that almost no other midfielder possesses with his ability to stuff out attacks. He also has guile and nous that can only come from playing at the top level for so long.
That includes slowing the game down by speaking to referees for longer than needed. The way Man Utd improve after Casemiro goes off could be a bleak look at life without the Brazilian.
So, Man Utd need to find a replacement.
In this article we’ll cover:
Bruno Guimaraes
To quote Brad Pitt in Moneyball on replacing a player: “I told you we can’t do it, and we can’t do it. Now, what we might be able to do is recreate him.”
Man Utd could create Casemiro in signing his compatriot Bruno Guimaraes. Someone Casemiro has reportedly recommeded to the club.
The Newcastle United midfielder would be a psychological coup too, stealing one of their rivals’ best players. Not to mention it’d go some way to replacing Casemiro’s aggressiveness in the tackle.
Now, Guimaraes doesn’t have the same ability to marshal a midfield in front of the defence. But he may be the best of both worlds, with an improvement on Casemiro’s box-to-box abilities.
Guimaraes is part of one of the meanest midfields in the Premier League, and he can virtually do it all. He can bring the ball out from defence, charge past midfields, and recover the ball when necessary. He’s a Swiss army knife.
Kobbie Mainoo’s defensive duties may be slightly upped when new midfielders join Man Utd in the summer. But if Man Utd combine him with a player like Guimaraes, the Red Devils will have more control of the ball. And more industry.
Casemiro’s forward passing has been underrated, particularly under Carrick. But Guimaraes’ passing is definitely an improvement. He would crucially also follow Man Utd’s recent transfer history of buying Premier League-proven talent.
The only concern may be Guimaraes’ age, with the Brazilian turning 29 later in the year. But Man Utd could do worse in replacing Casemiro with the Newcastle man.
Carlos Baleba
Man Utd reportedly made official inquiries for Carlos Baleba last summer. They may be tempted to renew that interest once this season is done.
Now, Ruben Amorim was the one in charge keen on Baleba. That stance may have changed with Carrick, and no permanent manager yet in place.
Baleba has the defensive destroyer abilities that Casemiro possess. And he’s much younger, at the age of just 21. The Cameroonian specialises in defensive recoveries, winning possession in the middle third and interceptions.
Baleba is also good at retrieving the ball in rest defence when an attack breaks down, thanks to his experience under Fabian Hurzeler at Brighton and Hove Albion.
As opposed to Guimaraes, Baleba’s attacking side does need work. Man Utd mostly attack when there is risk involved in moving the ball forward in the centre of the pitch. It’s something that not many teams in the Premier League do. And it’s been refreshing to watch.
Baleba doesn’t have enough forward passes to his name to do this. So it would be something he’d need to work on.
Elliot Anderson
Most of the elite teams will be vying for Elliot Anderson’s signature this summer. Bernardo Silva and Rodri at ageing at Manchester City. And, normally, what Man City want in the transfer window, they get.
The transfer fee Anderson commands may heavily depend on whether Nottingham Forest avoid relegation from the Premier League this summer.
Then there’s also the fact that he’s English, and having to deal with a staunch owner like Evangelos Marinakis who dragged his feet when Morgan Gibbs-White looked set to leave last summer.
On the pitch? A move for Anderson is a no-brainer.
The Englishman can play as a No.6 and an advanced No.8. He has the aggression to marshal and midfield and the explosiveness to bring the ball from defence to attack. Whether he can make the step to an elite club is also in question. But it’s only a matter of time until someone rolls the dice on the midfielder. So it might as well be Man Utd.
Man Utd’s signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo last summer a statement. They were two of the league’s best players who elevated the team. Anderson would continue this trend, and be a huge purchase. But the tumultuous transfer market isn’t something Man Utd want to deal with as a headache for the entire summer.
How do the players compare to each other?
All of the above options are attractive. But with the lack of midfield options, Man Utd may make a marquee signing like Guimaraes, Baleba or Anderson, as well as sign another midfielder to slowly pick up minutes.
It will not be easy to replace a player in Casemiro, who has bossed as many games as he has this season. You get the feeling Man Utd will need to invest as much on a Casemiro replacement as they did to sign the Brazilian in the first place.
Whether it’s through one or two players, replacing Casemiro should be the Red Devils’ biggest priority this summer.