By Betsefy
Manchester United have revealed that Casemiro will wear the number 18 shirt for the club.
The 30-year-old was officially presented to the club’s supporters on Monday evening ahead of the 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Premier League.
Casemiro trained alongside his teammates for the first time on Thursday and is available to make his debut in Saturday’s Premier League clash with Southampton at St Mary’s.
There had been widespread speculation surrounding the midfielder’s potential shirt number, but it has now been confirmed by the club that he will wear the number 18 for his new side.
“We can confirm that Casemiro will wear the no.18 shirt for Manchester United, following the completion of his transfer from Real Madrid,” read a statement on Man United’s official website.
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Paul Scholes famously wore the number 18 for Man United, and Casemiro was full of praise for the club legend when he spoke to journalist Andy Mitten.
“Well, there are many players,” he told Mitten when asked about his idols. “I think there are players that you remember in your life. So, in terms of idols in this position my idol growing up was always [Zinedine] Zidane, [but] here at Manchester United, it was always Paul Scholes.
“He’s a player that was small but he got stuck in, he was a fighter, he gave everything on the pitch. His passing over 50 to 70 metres was incredible.
“Manchester United have always [had] good players in that position. [Michael] Carrick was also a great player so I think that Manchester United have always had good players in that position and in midfield.
“The little guy [Scholes] was very good and what I loved about him when he played was that he was small but he went in hard and fair.”
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Casemiro sported the number eight and 28 shirts during his time at Sao Paulo, while he wore 18, 38 and 16 for Real Madrid before taking the 14 for the 2015-16 campaign.
The South American sported the jersey for seven straight seasons at Bernabeu, but he will now wear the number 18 for his new club.
Bruno Fernandes wore 18 up until the end of last season, with the Portugal international now sporting the number eight following Juan Mata‘s departure.
Casemiro has become Man United’s fourth signing of the summer after Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez, but the club are currently working on a big-money deal for Ajax attacker Antony.
The Red Devils lost their opening two matches of the Premier League season to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford but returned to winning ways at home to Liverpool last time out.
