Forgotten gem who’s “like two men” can end Casemiro & Ugarte’s Man Utd stay

More than anywhere else, Wembley perhaps represents the turbulent nature of Casemiro’s stay at Manchester United.

Indeed, in February 2023, United’s rookie talisman scored the first goal as Erik ten Hag’s side went on to win the Carabao Cup, with the Brazilian proving to be the “cement” of the team that season, in his coach’s view.

However, almost 15 months later, the former Real Madrid player was just watching as the Red Devils shocked Manchester City to win the FA Cup, with the much-criticized Sofiane Amrabat serving as the pillar of the midfield that day.

There remains confusion over the reason for Casemiro’s absence, after he was initially included in the Tour’s squad, before withdrawing with a hamstring injury.

Was he just upset about being excluded from the Amrabat position, or was there a real problem? Either way, that day – like the defeat at Selhurst Park a few weeks earlier – seemed to mark the beginning of the end for the veteran’s Old Trafford career.

Remarkably, with 2026 looming, the 33-year-old has defied the odds to regain his starting place under Ruben Amorim’s regime, even if his long-term future remains murky.

Why do Manchester United still need to let Casemiro leave?

Have his legs given up on him, or has the midfielder given up on Ten Hag, as the five-time Champions League winner looked in very poor form when appointed as a makeshift centre-back in that 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

With Amorim on the doorstep, the aging talent looked like a different player, and it must be said that the Portuguese coach is among those who appear to have been surprised by the manner of his return.

While Casemiro started alongside Christian Eriksen in Amorim’s first match at Portman Road, he initially faded from view, being “behind every midfielder, even Toby”. [Collyer]“At some point, according to his manager.

The player was a regular in the Europa League last season, with the £70m signing having since made 13 Premier League appearances in 2025/26, scoring key goals against Chelsea, Brighton and Nottingham Forest.

He’s a rising man, but should this affect the rule of Amorim and Eneos? A player who was flagged by Sir Jim Ratcliffe as a problematic signing, before he arrived at Old Trafford, there must surely have been a desire to get such an expensive asset off the books.

At £350,000-a-week, it’s hard to see the merit of extending Casemiro’s contract, with only six months remaining on his current deal.

The suggestion is that INEOS would actually look to let him leave for nothing, and despite all his recent developments, this appears to be the right course of action, not least given that the midfield warrior will turn 34 in February.

Moving Casemiro out of the team could also become much easier if Amorim looks to be a forgotten figure at United – and no, it’s not Manuel Ugarte.

The forgotten Manchester United star could replace Ugarte and Casemiro

Upon his move to Manchester in the summer of 2024, it was felt that Ugarte would be a ready-made Casemiro replacement, having emerged as a tackling machine during his time at Sporting Lisbon, albeit to a lesser extent at Paris Saint-Germain.

18 months later, while still ranking in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues in terms of tackles made per 90, according to FBref, the Uruguayan has drifted to the sidelines, starting just two league matches all season.

After coming under fire from his manager at the end of last season, the 24-year-old is staring down a quick exit heading into 2026, amid reports he could also leave in January or next summer.

Once again, the decision to let him leave in the new year could become much easier if Amorim decides to reintegrate the aforementioned Collier, with controversy surrounding the Englishman’s recall from his loan spell at West Bromwich Albion.

He is currently back in Manchester receiving treatment for a fresh injury, which could keep the 21-year-old out for eight weeks, and there could be benefit in keeping the former Brighton & Hove Albion man on board when he returns to full fitness, not least given the lack of midfield depth at Amorim’s disposal.

A player who was joined by Ten Hag during the FA Cup Final celebrations, as he did with Kobe Maino in the Carabao Cup a year ago, Collier made 13 first-team appearances last season, after making his debut as a substitute in the Community Shield loss to Manchester City.

Now, he may not be the magical Maino-style footballer that United need either, but what he does have is a real motor and work ethic, with such athleticism clearly lacking in the experienced duo of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.

Indeed, Mark Beard, his former coach at Brighton, sees it as almost “…football/transfer-news/manchester-united-finalise-brighton-transfer-6766179?utm_campaign=sharebar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">He plays like two men sometimes“That is ground he can cover, having been hailed as ‘the best in the country’ in this division in his age group.

As Baird noted that “like Kante”, Collier showed flashes of that defensive mentality last season, memorably producing a brilliant goal-line clearance against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Of course, the loan spell was not fruitful due to injury and lack of playing time, having made just three Championship starts for the Baggies, although when he is fit and available again, the two-footed talent could deserve a chance to stake his claim once again in Amorim’s first-team squad.

Ugarte, among the worst signings of recent times, is underachieving, while Casemiro is certainly heading towards the peak of his stay with United.

Collyer, although a wildcard option, could represent the perfect replacement to help push them out the door.

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