Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are two bright young stars who have been promoted by Erik ten Hag. However, their careers are still very long ahead, the last two years with Ten Hag are just the starting point. Bruno Fernandes was given the captaincy by Ten Hag but the Portuguese star's influence at Man United was there before the Dutch strategist took over the team.
Meanwhile, the stars from Ajax have not left enough of an impression for the fans at Old Trafford to consider them irreplaceable. There is only one person who has gone through the ups and downs with Ten Hag, with Man United, and has had the same ups and downs as this club over the past 2 years, and that is Casemiro.
Until Man United won their first title under Ten Hag (League Cup), Casemiro was the most consistent player. The Real Madrid legend played at the level that helped him win 5 Champions Leagues with Los Blancos. Everything was great in the first season with Casemiro and Ten Hag. It was only after winning the League Cup that the relationship between the Brazilian star and Ten Hag began to crack.
Last season, when Ten Hag started to re-deploy the transitional style of play, Casemiro became a symbol of failure. He was 32 years old but was still tasked with being a penalty area shield, constantly running and always appearing in the opposition penalty area to receive second-line shots.
Casemiro played poorly, Man United's performance was affected, he and Ten Hag were also severely criticized. Until the end of last season, no one thought this duo would still be at Old Trafford. However, when the last straw was the loss to West Ham, Ten Hag was forced to leave his seat.
Casemiro agreed to stay after last summer, rejecting several offers that seemed to be trying to pull him out of the quagmire at Old Trafford. It is no exaggeration to say that the former Real Madrid midfielder has survived a dark period with Ten Hag, in which he was the main character in the team's somewhat declining performance.
Closing that unforgettable chapter, Casemiro was himself again in the recent match against Leicester. His cannon shot to open the score was like a release, untying himself from the chaos of the past to open a new journey for himself. The smile has returned to the Real Madrid legend, with the class and style of play that once helped him dominate Europe.
To achieve this, Ruud van Nistelrooy's contribution was great. The Dutch interim captain let Manuel Ugarte play from the start. With Ugarte, Casemiro was more freed from the task of protecting the defense. With Ugarte supporting behind, "old man" Casemiro was more comfortable to rush forward, approach the goal and score 2 goals. If luckier, the 32-year-old star would have had a hat-trick when a shot hit the post.
After the final whistle blew, the Stretford End stadium sang out cheers for the two stars, one was Van Nistelrooy, the other was Casemiro after a night of great performances.
It is too early to confirm Casemiro's future at Old Trafford when Ruben Amorim is about to arrive. He may leave in the January transfer window, or reach the end of his contract and find a new destination as a free agent. However, as a former Man United player, fans still expect the Brazilian star to continue to burn out like he did against Leicester so that he has no regrets.
"I'm happy for him. The way Casemiro trains, helps the team and everyone is a typical example. Look at the crowd of fans, the way they cheer for him says it all. I'm very happy that Casemiro is still here" - Van Nistelrooy shared.
Casemiro is not the future of Man United but is certainly the most important part at the present. He is the embodiment of the Erik ten Hag dynasty with all its ups and downs and will be the best person to pass on the spirit to the next generation before the farewell day.
