An “assessment has revealed a strain that will keep him out for a number of weeks” according to a statement on the club website.
And there’s concern that Casemiro might not bounce back from this and that it might be time to sell the 31-year-old.
A portion of the issue with Manchester United’s current tactics is that they heavily invest on one player in the hopes that he will fill a hole in the team.
However, what occurs if the athlete sustains an injury, exhausts themselves, or loses form?
There are a few players at United who can replace Casemiro, but not many.
How do Manchester United deal with this? Here is a look at a handful of solutions:
Sofyan Amrabat: Sofyan Amrabat has a great chance to play a lot of games for Manchester United right now. The Moroccan was added as a rotational option and a companion for Casemiro. They haven’t really played together, though.
United needs to pray Amrabat stays healthy. It has been a little difficult so far, and he has not yet displayed his greatest form. Either his strengths will be evident throughout this time, or his weaknesses will be glaringly obvious.
Scott McTominay: Although Scott McTominay is better suited for a forward position and lacks the discipline to hold in front of the midfield, Manchester United had previously hoped he would replace Nemanja Matic.
But McTominay has already pulled it off. In September 2022, McTominay was a holding midfielder for a Manchester United team that also included Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes that defeated Arsenal 3-1.
The players will “fight like dogs,” according to McTominay, and he will play a different position if necessary to achieve this.
Kobbie Mainoo: The return of midfield sensation Kobbie Mainoo is a plus for Manchester United. Perhaps a hint of things to come, he even replaced Casemiro while making his FA Cup debut earlier this year.
Mainoo is nearly ready to be considered for the starting lineup after his impressive performance for the under-21s last week.
The issue is Manchester United’s precarious state. With the challenges mounting, now is not the time to bring a young talent into a squad. But with so few options, Erik ten Hag’s hand might be forced by Casemiro’s injuries.
Hannibal Mejbri: Possibly the least likely of these four choices, Hannibal Mejbri can play a variety of midfield positions, including deep-lying midfielder, which may give him more opportunities to show off his passing skills.
He has typically been utilized as an offensive midfielder for United’s first team, thus this would be a change from his previous role.
Although Casemiro lacks the energy and stamina to maneuver around the first team, he possesses both. His tendency to pick up bookings raises serious concerns about his discipline, though you might also criticize the Brazilian for it.
