Roy Keane has lavished praise Manchester United star Casemiro, dismissing suggestions the Brazilian is ‘just a sitting midfielder.’
Casemiro has enjoyed a superb World Cup campaign in Qatar with Tite’s side reaching the quarter-finals with a thumping 4-1 victory over South Korea on Monday.
The former Real Madrid star has displayed all his qualities during the campaign, stifling opposition attacks in the middle of the park, chipping in with a vital winning goal against Switzerland and contributing to Brazil’s dazzling passing game.
Casemiro had had a transformative effect on United’s midfield since his arrival in the summer with former club captain a huge fan of the midfielder’s attitude.
‘’I think he’s a brilliant player,’ Keane told ITV. ‘You give him credit, he turns up every week, you know what you’re going to get which is a huge compliment to a player.
‘’You fall into this trap of not knowing if players are going to turn up – he does, he turns up every week. He’s six foot, won the big prizes, gone to United, settled in very well.
‘Labelled a couple years ago unfairly that he’s a sitting midfielder, he’s far from it.
‘He links up play, already got a goal in the World Cup, he’s brilliant but he turns up and has a great attitude.’
After almost three months chasing a deal to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona, United wrapped up a deal for Casemiro relatively quickly in August after losing their first two matches of the season.
After initially being eased into the side by Erik ten Hag, the 30-year-old is now playing a crucial role having opted for a fresh challenge after years of success with Real Madrid.
‘Without a doubt it was down to the great stature of Manchester, because it’s a massive club with a great history,’ Casemiro told United’s website this week on his decision to join the club.
‘‘For sure that was the big attraction for coming here.
‘I think that the great standing this club has in the game and its great history are definitely the most important reasons to be here. It’s also a fresh set of goals in a brand-new league for me.
‘So that presents a really big and exciting challenge for me and I’m working really hard to achieve them alongside my teammates.’
MORE : Neymar sends emotional message to Pele after Brazil progress to World Cup quarter-finals
MORE : Tite defends Brazil celebrations after Roy Keane dubs them ‘disrespectful’
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