CASEMIRO claims his first season at Manchester United was his best ever despite mixed fortunes in the Premier League.The midfielder joined United following a £70million deal with Real Madrid in 2022.Casemiro claims his first season at Manchester United was his best everCredit: GettyCasemiro has had mixed fortunes at Man Utd since joining in 2022Credit: AlamyThe Brazil international enjoyed tremendous success during his nine-year stint at Real where he won three LaLiga titles, the Copa del Rey and five Champions League trophies.However, the 32-year-old hasn’t been able to replicate the same success at Man Utd, despite winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in his first two years with the club.Some of Casemiro’s performances the last two seasons have been heavily criticised, especially from pundits such as Jamie Carragher who strongly advised him to move to Saudi Arabia or the MLS.However, the Brazilian is adamant that his debut season at Old Trafford featured the best ever version of himself as he amassed a total of seven goals and seven assists in 53 appearances.Read More on Man UtdCasemiro told AS: “It was the perfect time. I had won everything with Madrid and I had to take on other challenges. Looking at my career, individually, my best season as a professional footballer was the first with United. “I’m not saying collectively in terms of titles. Madrid’s Champions League is the ultimate, but as a player I think Old Trafford saw the best Casemiro in my first year.”Casemiro insists he still has a lot to offer to United despite a few sub par performances, which have seen him falling out of favour under new manager Ruben Amorim.So much so that the defensive midfielder, who started his first Premier League game of 2025 in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Spurs, wants to see out his £375,000-a-week contract, which runs out in 2026.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSCasemiro said: “I have to keep doing what I’m doing, with a lot of respect and education. Of course I’d like to play more, of course. I don’t know any player who doesn’t want to play and help. “Also, I’d like to help the club at this time. I approach things with respect for my team-mates and the technical committee.Rio Ferdinand blasts ‘highly disrespectful’ Jamie Carragher for brutal eight-word assessment of Man Utd star Casemiro”And above all, I respect United, a club to which I’m very grateful. I have a year and a half left on my contract and I’d like to fulfil it here in Manchester. I’m comfortable here and so is my family. “They’ve adapted, we speak English. I’m very grateful to the Old Trafford fans and to the club. I’m happy at club level. Happy in the bench? Of course not. That’s another thing.”Casemiro is no stranger to winning over demanding managers throughout his 14-year career at the top level.The versatile midfielder has shone bright for the likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane at Real as well as Tite in Brazil – the trio who he considers his “top three” coaches.Casemiro added: “Nobody wins so many titles just by being nice, although he is. I have a huge affection for Ancelotti.”For me he is in the top three of the coaches I have had, along with Zidane, of course, and Tite, who was the coach of Brazil. I have had others who have left their mark on me, like [Jose] Mourinho or [Julen] Lopetegui.Casemiro’s Man City warning”But Ancelotti is an old-school coach who didn’t stay stuck in the old school. Carlo modernised like football. Tactics, physical preparation… Ancelotti didn’t stay stuck in the old school.”He has the intelligence and calmness of an old coach, but with the intelligence of the new ones. An ideal mix. An incredible coach because of him and his staff.”Carlo is different from others and has known how to mark an era. In football there are several ways to win. [Pep] Guardiola’s tiki-taka, the intensity and living the passion of football like [Jurgen] Klopp, the defensive power of [Diego] Simeone, for whom I have a lot of respect…”Casemiro continues to follow Real’s matches and rooted for them during their most recent 3-2 victory over his current club’s rivals Manchester City at the Etihad.The Brazilian is confident his former club can make it to the Champions League’s last 16 thanks to the Santiago Bernabeu factor but warned them not to underestimate Man Utd’s noisy neighbours.Casemiro still backs RealCasemiro stated: “It wasn’t a surprise to me. Madrid almost always does it and everyone knows the history of this team and what it is capable of doing. “Madrid always grows until the end and never gives up. Even losing 2-1, I knew there was a lot to play for. And that’s City and a great coach like Guardiola. But they did it. “On top of that, the return leg will be at the Bernabeu with a great result after the 2-3. It won’t be easy, but the Bernabeu, on those Champions League nights, is very special. “I wish all the luck in the world to my former team-mates and not only because of my rivalry with City, but more so for Madrid. I hope they get through to the last 16. Even if it hadn’t been against City, I’ll always want Madrid to win. Unless we meet one day, of course…READ MORE SUN STORIES”Yes, this is the Bernabeu. But be careful, it’s going to be difficult. City aren’t at their best, but they’re City. They have [Erling] Haaland, [Kevin] De Bruyne, a great goalkeeper like Ederson.”Madrid, together with the Bernabeu, are going to make it very difficult for City. I hope Madrid makes it to the last 16.”Man Utd ratings v SpursMANCHESTER UNITED slipped to a 12th defeat in the Premier League with Rasmus Hojlund coming under fire again.Here’s how SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated the Manchester United players against an underachieving Spurs side – who are now three places above them in 12th – in North London.Andre Onana – 3United can’t do anything with him between the sticks. Can’t be trusted to collect anything.His opposite number Vicario showed him a thing or two after returning for the first time since Spurs thrashed Man City in November.At fault for the first goal when he palmed out a relatively weak bouncing shot into Maddison’s path in the 13th minute.Noussair Mazraoui – 5An OK performance. Clever link-up play with Zirkzee but couldn’t get hold of Spence down the left-hand side.Pulled out an excellent cross for the Dutchman’s headed chance late-on.Matthijs de Ligt – 6His clearance stopped an obvious 2-0 before the half-an-hour mark.Harry Maguire – 5A mixed bag. Long ball over the top for Hojlund’s chance in opening 10 minutes and went on a few attacking runs himself in the first half.Did well to stop Dejan Kulusevski from having a go at the edge of the box. But bizarrely stopped in his tracks when a cross came flying into Son later on.Diogo Dalot – 6A difficult afternoon for the Portugal international as Son and Djed Spence left him for dead a few times.Hesitated when asked to shoot from five yards to make it 1-0 but helped Onana out with some clearances too.Patrick Dorgu – 4A Prem debut to forget. He was almost invisible from the left-hand side. And lacked quality when asked to get involved more in the second half.Was stupidly caught offside with Bruno Fernandes offloading a stunning cross pitch pass and booked late-on.Casemiro – 5Looked every bit a player that hasn’t played Premier League football for two months. Unsurprisingly booked for a late one on Son.Bizarrely dropped to the turf asking for a free-kick when nobody touched him. Was forced to play 89 minutes with eight teenagers on the bench. A difficult afternoon, indeed.Bruno Fernandes – 5Interceptions and breaking up play is not a part of the captain’s game. An uncharacteristically poor cross left United open on the counter.Did get back to stop Son from having a shot at Onana on the hour mark and started ticking in attack in the final 20 minutes.Alejandro Garnacho – 4Looked shaky and cut a frustrated figure after blazing over an absolute SITTER from 10 yards to level the scores.A bit of a shocker and looked a completely different player to the one who got United into the fifth-round of the FA Cup last week.Woke up a bit in the second half as Vicario kept him at bay with several superb stops. But the 20-year-old is clearly better off the bench.Joshua Zirkzee – 6The best of a desperately poor front three. There’s a street player in there and he’s great with his touches at times.But curled wide from 23 yards, stuck a header wide in the 70th minute and kicked an air shot in the final five minutes.Rasmus Hojlund – 3Is Hojlund the worst No 9 in United’s recent history?The young Dane, who was unlucky to have a chance saved by Vicario, was second best in every loose ball and kept losing possession.He was even caught offside after a pass from an Onana goal-kick in the first half – how often do you see that happen? More
