Erik ten Hag says the “magnificent” Casemiro has raised the standards at Manchester United.
Casemiro started United’s eighth consecutive Premier League match against Nottingham Forest, a sequence in which they have won five, drawn two and only lost one.
The 30-year-old was named man of the match after the 3-0 defeat of Forest four months on from his surprising £70million transfer from Real Madrid.
United spent the majority of the summer pursuing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong but eventually spent the funds allocated for the Dutchman on Casemiro, allowed to leave Madrid following the arrival of Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco.
“I am happy they did!” Ten Hag said of Madrid’s decision to sell Casemiro. “But you see also at the World Cup he is a magnificent player. My analysis before the season was we needed that 6 position and he is fulfilling that position.
“In pre-season, we had a lot of discussions but you need the right player and we definitely have the right player. I am really happy for Manchester United, for this team to have him because he is really raising the limits for Manchester United.”
Ten Hag is open to signing a younger midfielder next in the summer amid continuing interest in De Jong and Jude Bellingham.
Casemiro has formed a classy partnership with Christian Eriksen but the duo both turn 31 in February and fellow midfielder Fred celebrates his 30th birthday in March.
Scott McTominay has not started in the league since United were thrashed 6-3 by Manchester City on October 2.