By Betsefy
Manchester United have unveiled new signing Casemiro to the Old Trafford crowd ahead of Monday’s Premier League contest with Liverpool.
The Red Devils announced on Friday evening that they had reached an agreement with Real Madrid for the transfer of the Brazil international.
Casemiro gave a farewell press conference in Madrid on Monday before boarding a flight to Manchester, and he has now been presented to the Man United supporters.
The 30-year-old took to the field ahead of kickoff against Liverpool, with Erik ten Hag‘s side looking to bounce back from their successive defeats at the start of the new Premier League season.
Casemiro, who could make his Red Devils debut against Southampton on Saturday, is Man United’s fourth signing of the summer after Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez.
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The 20-time English champions are said to be working to sign another three players before the end of the transfer window, with Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, Ajax’s Antony and PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo all believed to be targets.
Casemiro said during his farewell press conference on Monday that he was looking forward to testing himself in the Premier League and also playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, although it is still unclear whether the Portugal international will remain at the club this summer.
“The Premier League is a competition I’ve always liked and always wanted to play in. What I’m looking for is to have a new challenge, a new league and a new culture,” he said.
“It’s true that they’re not in the Champions League right now, but I’m excited. I haven’t spoken with Cristiano Ronaldo yet, but I’m excited to play with him again.
“I’m so keen to get started, with the biggest club in England. If it was up to me, I’d play for them already tonight against Liverpool. But, I know I haven’t won anything there yet.”
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Casemiro also revealed that he first considered leaving Real Madrid this summer after the Champions League final, as he believed that his cycle at the club had ended.
“After the Champions League final I spoke with my agent and we had the sense that my time here was coming towards an end. My agent told me to go on holiday and relax and then we spoke again after a month and I still had this feeling that my cycle here was coming to an end,” said the midfielder.
“When the news came out then the transfer went quickly, but we’d already had these conversations. It was very difficult to speak about this with the president, but I think being honest is one of my great values. I was always honest in these conversations.
“Those who think that don’t know me. I’m not like that. If it was for money, then I could have left four or five years ago. The club always acted well with me. It was my decision. It was simply the feeling that my cycle here had come to an end. This was clear to me.”
Man United have dropped Harry Maguire for Monday’s clash with Liverpool, while Ronaldo has also been left out of the starting side at Old Trafford.
