Jamie Carragher claims Casemiro was a 'panic buy' that could cost Man Utd £100m

Jamie Carragher has claimed that Manchester United’s signing of Casemiro was a panic buy.

Last August, United splashed out a reported fee of around £70 million to lure Casemiro away from Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid.

Since joining, the Brazilian has become one of Erik ten Hag’s most important players.

However, after what was a below par performance during the 1-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday, United’s decision to bring the 30-year-old to the club was questioned.

Speaking to The Telegraph, former Liverpool and England defender Carragher labelled the transfer as a panic buy.

He said: “The prices for [Enzo] Fernandez, Rice and Caicedo are astronomical. They are also good deals. The proof of that is the £70million Manchester United paid last summer for Casemiro. The Brazilian will end up costing United more than Arsenal and Chelsea paid for Rice and Caicedo. Caicedo and Rice are examples of thinking ahead – going big now to save cash for the next six or seven years in which they will assume their role.

“I never believed Casemiro would be value for money. Not because there is any doubt that he has been a world-class player. But because he is at a stage of his career when he cannot not fully repay United’s massive fee.”

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“He was a panic buy when he joined a year ago, bought in the immediate aftermath of the failed pursuit of Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona; an ageing, stellar name signed for big money and on a massive salary to appease increasingly disgruntled fans, despite the fact he will need replacing with a similarly massive outlay two years on.”

Carragher continued: “He is precisely the kind of signing United have been moving away from this summer as they look to the future.

“United are now being strongly linked with players such as Sofyan Amrabat to help Casemiro protect their back line, but they did not challenge Arsenal and Chelsea for Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Fernandez or Rice because they felt Casemiro was the same profile of midfielder when they went big for him.

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“That demonstrates how unwise they were to pay so much. Real Madrid simply do not allow players of that ilk leave unless they feel they have had the best from them. Given Casemiro has four years left on a reported £300,000-a-week Old Trafford contract, United still have a massive financial commitment on their hands. It has already cost them the chance to buy a younger alternative.”