Man Utd left with a £70m star problem that leaves them unable to sign players

FCSB owner Gigi Becali, never one to shy away from controversy, was left furious after his side’s Europa League defeat to Manchester United.

His frustration wasn’t just with the result but with what he deemed cowardly tactics from head coach Ilias Charalampous.

As he left the National Arena, Becali vented to reporters, condemning his manager’s overly defensive approach.

Perhaps the final straw for Becali was seeing Casemiro introduced with 18 minutes to go.

Normally, bringing on a five-time Champions League winner would suggest a team is struggling. Instead, it was the ultimate symbol of United’s comfortable dominance in Bucharest—a luxury substitution in a match already won.

This, however, is not the same Casemiro who won everything with Real Madrid.

His brief cameo against FCSB remains his only appearance of 2025, as he was once again an unused substitute during United’s 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The Brazilian midfielder’s decline has been dramatic. He has been left out of the squad in seven of United’s last eight games, a situation stemming from his disastrous 64-minute performance against Newcastle—a game that may have effectively ended his United career.

What’s worse for Casemiro is that even the Saudi Pro League, long viewed as a potential escape route, appears uninterested in signing him.

This is a staggering fall for a player who, at 32 years old, still boasts one of the most decorated CVs in European football.

Casemiro’s first season at United was a success. He brought presence, leadership, and experience to the midfield, helping to stabilize the team.

However, his form deteriorated rapidly last season, and after a brief glimmer of revival earlier this campaign, he has now been completely cast aside.

Under Ruben Amorim, Casemiro has been reduced to a squad filler, unlikely to start any meaningful games.

Amorim has made it clear that the pace and physicality of the Premier League have overtaken the midfielder’s abilities.

"Sometimes it's a system fit—sometimes it's the player's [form]," Amorim told TNT Sports before the FCSB match.

"We know Casemiro has other qualities. He's intelligent, understands the game, and knows where the ball will be.

"But we play in a league with a big intensity difference. Our team needs players with high intensity, and sometimes we don't have them."

These words suggest that Casemiro is no longer in Amorim’s plans. The real problem for United, however, is that they have been unable to offload him in two successive transfer windows.

United’s part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe saw this coming. Even at the height of "Casemiro-mania," he questioned the wisdom of spending £70 million on a 30-year-old and handing him a four-year contract. He has been proven correct.

United have no chance of recouping a significant transfer fee. By the summer, Casemiro’s remaining amortization fee will be around £17.5 million, while his contract—making him United’s highest-paid player—remains a major financial drain.

Even with a Champions League absence clause reducing his wages, Casemiro still costs around £13.5 million per year—a staggering sum for a player who is no longer part of the first-team picture.

United must offload Casemiro this summer, yet his lack of playing time means there is little opportunity to put him in the shop window.

However, given his prestige and experience, there must be a club somewhere willing to take him.

If United fail to sell him yet again, Casemiro’s final year at Old Trafford could be spent in footballing exile, sitting on the bench while continuing to drain the club’s finances.