Devil’s Diary: Manchester United’s senseless and hasty purchases are over, Casemiro is the light at the end of the tunnel

After Erik ten Hag’s tragic start at Manchester United, it seems there is finally light at the end of the tunnel. That small glimmer of hope is Casemiro, who seems to be paying the price for the predatory youngsters that have come to Real Madrid in recent transfer seasons. But will it be enough to make a fundamental change on the pitch?

All is far from certain, but Red Devils fans have high hopes of seeing the Brazilian midfielder running around Old Trafford in the red jersey, as confirmed by journalist Fabrizio Romano a few hours ago.

Then, if Casemiro will indeed strengthen Manchester United, Haga is the perfect player for the latter to need for their success. Moreover, the 30-year-old midfielder, who has been at Real Madrid with a few breaks since January 2013, has been on a roll for several years now.

Already in the 2017/18 season, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored 26 goals in La Liga and was the team’s highest-rated player, Casemiro was right behind him. It was no different in the following seasons, in which the Brazilian tough guy held the centre of the White Ballet firmly in his hands.

He is a godsend for the Dutch coach after the setback with Frenkie de Jong, which could and probably will be a major turn for the better if he passes his scheduled medical on Friday. Just the fact that Manchester United can bring in such a player will bring a wave of positive emotions.

After the speculation about the arrival of Adrien Rabiot or Marko Arnautovic, after which many predicted the Red Devils to be mid-table, this is such a big turnaround.

One swallow does not make a spring

However, there are far more problems at Old Trafford than the defensive midfielder post. The defence, when the opposition are actively pressing, is virtually incapable of combining and getting the ball past the half other than by kicking. Moreover, this results in big problems in the form of unnecessary goals, the last game against Brentford was a clear proof of that. However, it looked similar against Brighton already.

But then the attack is definitely not the same as it presented itself in pre-season either. And if Cristiano Ronaldo does indeed leave, then the Hag would only have a trio of “quality” strikers for whom he has no replacement.

Then there is talk of a few reinforcements in attack – Hakim Ziyech, Antony and Cody Gakpo. However, things are not going nearly as fast in these cases as in the case of Casemiro, who could be a symbol of a turnaround. However, he is unlikely to feature against Liverpool just yet, although that is not unrealistic.

Source: Manchester United, Fabrizio Romano, Marca