 But Murtough had first made contact with the midfielder while he was still in talks with Barca about trying to break the contractual deadlock that wo){kind=link}
Manchester United signed Casemiro from Real Madrid days after Erik ten Hag’s side had suffered a shocking loss to Brentford – but that defeat didn’t worry the midfielder
Erik ten Hag got a glimpse of the character that Brazilian midfielder Casemiro has brought to Manchester United in the aftermath of his team’s battering at Brentford.
The five-time Champions League winner was watching from his home in Madrid in August as the club that wanted to bring him to the Premier League were humiliated 4-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Seven days earlier, Ten Hag’s reign had kicked off with a home defeat at the hands of Brighton. Casemiro’s response was to call United football director John Murtough. Not to tell him that he was having doubts about leaving Real Madrid – but to give assurances that he couldn’t wait to get started at Old Trafford.
No. 1 summer target Frenkie de Jong may have still been in Barcelona arguing over money, but this wasn’t a player leaving Real Madrid for a final pay-day. Casemiro had to wait six weeks before Ten Hag gave him his first Premier League start in the comeback victory at Everton. That was the start of a five-game unbeaten run that has United touted as top-four contenders.