Man Utd transfer failure as exit deal collapses after £70m star ‘changes mind’

Casemiro’s move to Galatasaray is now doomed after the Manchester United man ‘changed his mind’ over a loan move to Turkey.

After enjoying a brilliant debut season in England, it is fair to say Casemiro has struggled to justify his hefty £70million price tag over the past 12 months.

The 32-year-old has endured a difficult start to the 2024/25 campaign and has been linked with an exit from Old Trafford throughout the summer.

While most clubs are no longer able to sign players, Turkish teams can bring in players until September 13 and Galatasaray were working on a loan deal to sign Casemiro.

However, according to Football InsiderThe Brazilian rejected the loan request on Thursday despite his “initial” agreement to join the Turkish giants.

The 32-year-old reportedly ‘changed his mind’ at the last minute and is now set to stay in England with the Turkish transfer window set to close soon.

The arrival of Manuel Ugarte from PSG will ease the burden on Casemiro and Erik ten Hag will be hoping the Brazilian can find some form by January.

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Some experts believe Casemiro can still prove himself

While many fans and former pros have been highly critical of Casemiro over the past 12 months, former Chelsea and Arsenal defender William Gallas believes some of the criticism has been “too harsh”.

Jamie Carragher in particular has spoken of the Brazilian’s struggles, but Gallas believes the former Real Madrid star could still succeed.

“Jamie Carragher is too hard on Casemiro,” Gallas said via The mirror“Casemiro is going through a bad time and he might end up leaving Manchester United, but he could enjoy football again if he returned to Spain for example.

“He’s only 32, so he’s a long way from retirement. I think he’s got five or six years left before he retires. The big question about Casemiro is: is he happy in Manchester?”

“In my opinion, his body language suggests that he is not happy living there. He makes many more mistakes than when he was at Real Madrid, when he was living a good lifestyle and bright sunshine.”

“He’s in Manchester now, it’s cold and rainy and that can be difficult for some players off the pitch. He’s originally from Brazil and has lived in Spain. It’s not like he’s just moved across the border from France, where the climate is similar. It’s not always easy.”

Manchester United still exploring options for midfielder

Although Casemiro appears set to stay in Manchester, that hasn’t stopped Ten Hag’s side from scouring the market for midfield alternatives.

Indeed, former Juventus star Adrien Rabiot is still a free agent and Manchester United are among the Premier League clubs considering a move.

The problem with Rabiot is his wage demands. The 29-year-old is reportedly seeking a weekly salary of £220,000, which has already put off a number of clubs.

Elsewhere, Manchester United still keeping tabs on PSG’s Xavi Simons which could be made available for permanent transfer in 2025.

The dynamic playmaker will spend the 2024/24 campaign on loan at RB Leipzig, but is keen on a permanent move to the Premier League next summer.

Another playmaker being monitored by Manchester United scouts is Martin Baturina of Dinamo Zagreb. who has been dubbed the “next Luka Modric”. However, the Red Devils will face serious competition to secure his signature.

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Casemiro’s mixed journey at Manchester United

Casemiro signed for Man Utd from Real Madrid in August 2022 in a deal worth £60m, plus a further £10m in add-ons.

The Brazilian has a wealth of experience, having won 18 major trophies during his time at the Bernabéu. He is widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation, but his transition to the Premier League has been difficult.

People seem to have forgotten that Casemiro had a great start to his Manchester United career. Within six months of his arrival at Old Trafford, the Red Devils had won 79.4% of the games Casemiro played, compared to just 42.9% of the games without him.

However, Casemiro has undeniably declined since then. After a strong start to the 2023/24 season, he was sidelined for three months due to two consecutive injuries.

He has never been the same since and after some major errors last season, Carragher memorably described him as “finished” in top-flight football.

Casemiro was forced to play out of his central defender position towards the end of last season due to injuries at Man Utd and, unsurprisingly, struggled.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe was keen to offload the £350,000-a-week midfielder this summerbut despite their attempts to send him to Galatasaray on loan, he is expected to remain in Manchester for the time being.