Carlo Ancelotti and Ruben Amorim have almost no connection because they are 2 people from 2 different generations and are working in 2 different teams. However, both have the same choice: to trust Casemiro, the warrior who never gives up.
If you ask which coach trusts Casemiro the most, the answer is definitely Carlo Ancelotti. Immediately after taking the position of "captain" of the Brazilian national team, the first thing the Italian coach did was to call Casemiro and let this midfielder start in the debut match against Ecuador in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Remember, Casemiro was completely "forgotten" in the national team in the previous 20 months.
One of the measures of a player's performance is the national team call-up list. With his reputation, Casemiro was not called up to the Brazilian national team only because his performance was not good. However, Ancelotti did not care about that. The Italian coach has his own perspective. He believes in his own experience more than what is happening before his eyes.
“In my opinion, Casemiro is a very good player. I am lucky to have him at Real Madrid and I think the Brazilian national team needs players with qualities like Casemiro. Brazil has a lot of football talent but in modern football you need seriousness, dedication and willingness to sacrifice. Casemiro is a typical example of those qualities,” Ancelotti explained his decision.
The Italian coach's words were very clear. Brazil does not lack excellent players, but most of them have problems with attitude and effort. Ancelotti brought Casemiro back to the Brazilian national team not only because of his expertise, but also because he wants this player to be an example, a typical example for his teammates on the national team and even players who have not been called up to look at and try harder.
The story would have gone nowhere if Casemiro had disappointed Ancelotti in his first appearance for Brazil since October 2023. The match ended 0-0 and Casemiro was the highest-rated player on Sofascore.
Last Saturday (November 15), this midfielder continued to have a brilliant performance, scoring a goal to help Brazil win 2-0 against Senegal. If nothing changes, Casemiro will definitely be named in the list of Brazil for the 2026 World Cup.
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The relationship between Ancelotti and Casemiro began in the 2013/14 season when the Italian coach first led Real Madrid. At that time, the Brazilian midfielder was only 21 years old and only played 657 minutes for the "White Vultures" before being loaned to Porto. Ancelotti only briefly answered the question: "Casemiro is for the future."
Many people mistakenly think that the Italian coach does not like Casemiro. However, look back at Real Madrid's midfield at that time. That was Xabi Alonso, Luka Modric, Sami Khedira, Asier Illarramendi, players with both reputation and experience compared to the Brazilian midfielder. Therefore, it is understandable that Ancelotti does not need Casemiro.
However, it was a very different story when Ancelotti returned to the Bernabeu for the second time. Casemiro was Real Madrid's ace in midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. The Brazilian midfielder started 31 times in La Liga and was rarely substituted. The same was true in the Champions League. Under Ancelotti's guidance, Casemiro won two European Cups.
They have a very good relationship both on and off the field. In the summer of 2022, the Italian coach had many private talks with Casemiro to convince the Brazilian midfielder to stay at Real Madrid instead of moving to Man United. Unfortunately, Casemiro had his own choice. One person said that Ancelotti was in tears when he announced Casemiro's decision to leave to the members of Real Madrid.
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During his time at Real Madrid, Casemiro was overshadowed by other bright lights at the Bernabeu. Of course, Man United are not crazy enough to spend £60 million just because the player plays alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. The Brazilian midfielder's talent is unquestionable, but Casemiro only really showed his mettle when he repeatedly fell into trouble at Old Trafford.
Since arriving at Man United, Casemiro’s career has had many ups and downs. In May 2024, Man United lost 0-4 to Crystal Palace and the Brazilian midfielder was the focus of criticism. Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool star and Sky Sports commentator, advised Casemiro to leave Man United to move to a “more comfortable” league.
“I always say, ‘Leave football before football leaves you’. In Casemiro’s case, football is leaving him. Casemiro is no longer fit to play in the Premier League. He has to realise that and act.”
Three weeks later, Casemiro told coach Erik Ten Hag that he was unwell and did not want to play. That match, Man United surprisingly beat Man City 2-1 and won the championship. The Brazilian midfielder only celebrated perfunctorily and left immediately after to travel with his family.
Everyone thought Casemiro would leave that summer. However, the Brazilian midfielder stayed and continued to receive bitterness. Round 3 of the 2024/25 Premier League, Man United faced Liverpool and Casemiro was replaced after 45 minutes of play. The player who entered the field was Toby Collyer, a player playing in the Premier League for the first time.
Needless to say, Casemiro and Ten Hag’s relationship broke down after that action. The Brazilian midfielder only made two more starts for Man United before Ten Hag was sacked.
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Man United’s new LV, Ruben Amorim, took over the team in a state of chaos. The press always put Casemiro’s name at the top of the list of “urgent liquidation”. From the beginning of December 2024 to the end of January 2025, the Brazilian midfielder only played 2 matches. That made many people think that Amorim wanted to push Casemiro out of Old Trafford.
But they were all wrong again (like with Ancelotti before). The Portuguese coach saw what the media could not see, which was Man United's training sessions. Ruben Amorim chose Casemiro as one of the key factors in Man United's framework, so he needed this midfielder to understand the style of play and how the system worked.
The question is why did Amorim bet on Casemiro, a player in his 30s, instead of Ugarte, his former student at Sporting Lisbon? Firstly, Amorim told Ugarte straight that “you are not the same anymore”. Secondly, Amorim saw qualities in Casemiro, just like Ancelotti before him.
In fact, the Portuguese coach did not use Casemiro for those 2 months with another hidden meaning. Amorim wanted to use the Brazilian midfielder as an example of overcoming difficulties. Before that, many Man United players had the bad habit of thinking that they were definitely in the first team, so they had no motivation to strive and practice hard.
“I want to use Casemiro as an example. He was dropped from the starting line-up and had to work hard to get his place back. Casemiro earned it and deserved it. I wanted the players to understand that I was trying to be fair to everyone,” Amorim later explained of that period.
This could be said to be a “dangerous” but extremely accurate move by Ruben Amorim. At that time, Casemiro was a typical example of negativity due to his age (33 years old) and high salary (350,000 pounds/week). If the Brazilian player did not perform well, the Portuguese coach had a reason to ask the team's leadership to sell him to reinvest.
However, fortunately (and unfortunately) for Amorim, Casemiro completed the task excellently. Remember, reaching the top is difficult, but going back from the bottom to the top is ten thousand times more difficult. Most players cannot do that because form and position at the club are two things that are very difficult to regain. It takes many factors such as a strong spirit, a strong will to fight, along with intelligence and diligence to create that "comeback". That is why Casemiro deserves the respect of fans.
Football is not only about attacking but also defending. To talk about the importance of Casemiro at Man United right now, look at the following statistics. The “Red Devils” have conceded 20 goals in all competitions this season, of which they have only conceded 5 goals when Casemiro is on the pitch! When the Brazilian midfielder is off the pitch, Man United have conceded 15 times.
No need to look far, just look back at the two recent matches against Brighton (4-2 win) and Tottenham (2-2 draw). Man United kept a clean sheet when Casemiro was on the pitch. Immediately after this player left the field, the Old Trafford team conceded not just 1 but 2 goals.
Ruben Amorim would love to keep Casemiro on the pitch until the end, but the Portuguese coach has a bigger concern: ensuring the Brazilian midfielder is fit enough to play every match. Both of Casemiro's backup options, Ugarte and Mainoo, are not up to the task. The young English talent is too keen on dribbling instead of sweeping the ball. The Uruguayan is a terrible reader of the game, often losing his position when opponents make runs in the midfield.
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In fact, the Portuguese coach also has other problems related to Casemiro besides keeping him. “We don’t know how things are going. My goal is to continue to trust Casemiro. I just want to focus on my work. I am very happy to have Casemiro in the squad. He is really important.” That was Amorim’s answer when asked about extending Casemiro’s contract.
The Brazilian midfielder's contract with Man United will expire next June and there is a clause to extend for another year. According to Amorim's above share, the Portuguese coach cannot decide whether Casemiro stays or not. The problem lies in the Brazilian midfielder's salary is too high (350,000 pounds/week) while he is about to turn 34.
If the contract is renewed, Man United will definitely want Casemiro to take a pay cut. That is something no player wants. In case this player does not agree, it is not surprising that Man United chooses the option of not activating the one-year extension clause and finding a replacement.
That would be a pity for Amorim and Man United fans as well. It has been a long time since they have seen the “Red Devils” play so well. In Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, the central midfielder position is extremely important because it must simultaneously do both the sweeping and passing duties well. Casemiro is doing that task very well even though he is about to turn 34.
Instead of a conclusion, the author of the article would like to use Ruben Amorim's statement about Casemiro, the warrior who never gives up, one of the few who can come back from the bottom to the top, after the 4-2 victory over Brighton in the Premier League.
“I think he is a great example for all the players. Casemiro is very important for us at the moment. He moves a lot, he presses high and with great intensity. I am very happy to have Casemiro in the team, the other players in the team need to learn from him.
Football changes so quickly and players have to constantly learn and improve to be the best. Winning only comes when you do the right thing. Casemiro was at the bottom of my list when I arrived at Old Trafford, even Collyer was ahead of him. However, Casemiro has come back spectacularly to be in the first team and has been called up to the national team as well.”
A few words about Casemiro
Name: Carlos Henrique Casimiro
Birthday: February 23, 1992
Height & Weight: 1m85 & 84kg
Nationality: Brazilian
Position: Defensive midfielder
🏆 Club Titles
Sao Paulo
🏅 Copa Sudamericana: 2012
Real Madrid
🏆 UEFA Champions League: 2013‑14, 2015‑16, 2016‑17, 2017‑18, 2021‑22
🥇 La Liga: 2016‑17, 2019‑20, 2021‑22
🏅 Copa del Rey: 2013‑14
🥇 Supercopa de España: 2017, 2019‑20, 2021‑22
🏆 UEFA Super Cup: 2016, 2017, 2022
🌍 FIFA Club World Cup: 2016, 2017, 2018
Manchester United
🥇 EFL Cup (Carabao Cup): 2022‑23
🏆 FA Cup: 2023‑24
🌎 Brazilian National Team Titles
U17 / U20
🏅 South American U-17 Championship: 2009
🏆 FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2011
🥇 South American U-20 Championship: 2011
Brazil team (seniors)
🏆 Copa America: 2019
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