Jamie Carragher says Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is now a "completely different player" as he approaches his Old Trafford farewell at the end of the season.
The veteran Brazil international, who turns 34 later this month, rolled back the years as . Casemiro headed in Man Utd's opener before setting up Matheus Cunha's goal with a no-look pass.
Casemiro, who's started all three games under Carrick, announced his Old Trafford departure last month, bringing a four-year stay to an end. Carragher famously criticised Casemiro after Man Utd were beaten 4-0 at Crystal Palace in May 2024, suggesting the midfielder was no longer good enough to compete at the highest level.
"I think Casemiro should know tonight that he should only have another three games left at the top level," Carragher said then.
"The next two league games and the cup final, then he should be thinking, I need to go to the MLS or Saudi.
"This has to stop because we are watching one of the greats of modern times. I always remember the saying 'leave the football before the football leaves you'. The football has left him. At this top level, he needs to call it a day at this level and move."
Now, following an apparent renaissance from the five-time Champions League winner, Carragher says Casemiro deserves huge credit for his turnaround.
"It is now fair to say the football has not left him," Carragher said on Super Sunday Extra Time.
"Considering what he's producing this season in the Premier League, and not just Fulham at home, you think what he did last week against Arsenal away and Manchester City at home.
"Casemiro is well within his rights to, if he wants to come back at me and say, 'leave the punditry before the punditry's left you!' He could definitely get one of those back in. Credit to him, he looks a completely different player.
"He looks like a different player physically as well. Even when I said that, you looked at him and he looked like an old man coming to the end of his time as a player.
"And whether he let himself go a little bit, or now he's being ultra professional, physically, he looks completely different."
Analysis by Your Site' William Bitibiri:
"Casemiro is just one goal from matching his return from his best-ever goalscoring season in a league campaign.
"He's very much on his farewell tour, after announcing he will depart at the end of the season and he's rolled back the years under Michael Carrick.
"His opening goal set the tone and his no-look assist to set up Matheus Cunha was reflective of the confidence he's playing with. Carrick noted the "presence" he's been since he took over as interim coach and how his experience has been significant.
"A five-time Champions League winner, his reputation has taken something of a hit since arriving on these shores; however, the Brazil international has maintained the favour of his coaches.
"As he approaches his 34th birthday, any suggestion that he should have been a part of Man Utd's plans beyond this season are misguided. But on the flip side, alongside Kobbie Mainoo, he remains an important cog in Carrick's machine.
"Casemiro is often profiled as the anchor in midfield and that owes to his time at Real Madrid, where he was the proverbial water carrier for Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
"However, for Man Utd, he's proving to be much more of a completer package, showing a willingness to break lines with forward passes, hence his seven into the final third against Fulham.
"Beyond the goal contributions, suddenly, Casemiro appears to be a player United can once again rely on. It's a call back to the player Man Utd signed from Real in a deal worth £70m in 2022.
"There's been a lot of talk about United's reported midfield overhaul this summer but the hole Casemiro is going to leave and the boots that will need to be filled grow every passing day."
Your Site' Paul Merson:
"It's the right move.
"He's been a top player. But he's 34, and before you know it, he'll be 35.
"He hasn't got the legs to play alone with Bruno in midfield, and Kobbie Mainoo has helped that massively.
"We're talking about the future of Man Utd - they're right to do what they're doing."
