The clock is ticking on Casemiro's Manchester United career. And LA Galaxy are waiting in the wings.
Reports suggest the MLS side are ramping up their interest in the Brazilian midfielder once his contract expires this summer. The 33-year-old shocked everyone by announcing in January that he wouldn't be signing a new deal at Old Trafford.
Now the Daily Mail claims Galaxy are serious about bringing him to Los Angeles. They're considering him for a Designated Player spot - the same special role created for David Beckham back in 2007 and later used by Zlatan Ibrahimović in 2018.
Here's the thing though. Galaxy already have three Designated Players on their books, which is the maximum allowed. But they've got a problem - star midfielder Riqui Puig is out for the entire 2026 season with a knee injury. Without him last season, Galaxy managed just seven wins, a franchise low.
For anyone looking at MLS futures, Galaxy's need for a world-class midfielder is obvious. Casemiro could transform their title chances overnight.
Why United Aren't Keeping Him
Manchester United would love to keep Casemiro in different circumstances. But he's 33 and reportedly earning £375,000 per week - that's over half a million dollars.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe didn't hold back in March, lumping Casemiro into a group of players who are either "not good enough" or "overpaid." Pundit Jamie Carragher was even harsher, saying "the football has left him" and he should "call it a day at this level."
But here's the plot twist. Casemiro has completely silenced his critics with recent performances. After a masterclass against Fulham where he scored and assisted before being subbed off at 2-0, even Carragher admitted he was wrong. "Credit to him, he looks a completely different player," the former Liverpool defender said.
United's Replacement Hunt
Replacing Casemiro won't be easy, especially after that Fulham game. United were cruising 2-0 when he came off, then collapsed and lost 3-2. That tells you everything about his importance.
United are linked with Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, and Adam Wharton - all expensive Premier League targets. After spending nothing in January, expect them to splash serious cash this summer.
Leon Goretzka is a cheaper option as a free agent from Bayern Munich. The German brings similar energy and physicality to Casemiro. Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller is another name floating around, though he's more of a playmaker than a battler.
If Casemiro keeps performing at this level until summer, whoever replaces him has massive shoes to fill. For United backers, losing him could seriously impact their top-four chances unless they get their recruitment spot on.
