Casemiro #5

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One of Real Madrid’s all-time greats. When he moved to Manchester United in 2022 he was asked by reporters about one of the many new things he would have to get used to, namely no Champions League football. Was it something that bothered him? “Well, I have five already,” he smiled. Since then, his time at United has been mixed – a sharp decline, but, this season – his last at United – a major recovery, finding form just at the right time for this summer. Ancelotti told reporters last year: “There are no players in Brazil with the same characteristics as Casemiro.” He is known, too, for quiet leadership, and told the Guardian in 2020: “It’s just my personality. I am very, very, very calm, even if my playing style is aggressive and everyone can see that. It’s my mum’s values: be polite, treat everyone the same. You can’t lose that, ever. You don’t need to shout to lead.” His correct name is Casimiro; he became, and stuck with ‘Casemiro’ instead when São Paulo spelt his name wrong on his shirt. “I played very well that day and I’m a very superstitious person, so I told the club: ‘There’s no need to change it.’ It was a one-match mistake; now I’ll carry it with me forever."

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