Casemiro ‘has decided his next club’ after Man United ‘private agreement’
Casemiro has already decided his next destination after Man United announced he would be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season.
The midfielder will have turned 34 by the end of the season and is eyeing a final big payday with a move to the Saudi Pro League already lined up.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Casemiro reached a private agreement with United before his exit was made public.
With just six months remaining on his contract at Old Trafford, the Brazil international if free to discuss terms and potential reach a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club.
Saudi clubs have been long-term admirers of his after Brown told Football Insider in October that Saudi Pro League sides wanted Casemiro and were readying offers.
Casemiro set for Saudi Pro League move
Football Insider first revealed in October that Casemiro was edging towards leaving Man United with offers expected to arrive from the Middle East in January.
The midfielder is expected to agree terms over the move before the end of the season, although there have been questions about why his exit was announced early.
“Casemiro is almost certainly going to Saudi Arabia,” Brown told Football Insider.
“He’ll be 34 at the end of the season, and the opportunity is there for him to go and make a hell of a lot of money over there and see out the rest of his career.
“The interest has been there for a while and his contract is running out so he can speak to anybody he likes about a move at the end of the season.
“I expect it will be agreed before the season ends and especially now they’ve announced his exit.
“I’m not sure why they decided now would be the right time, when he’s still playing a key role in the team, because it’s only going to lead to speculation.
“If he has a bad game now, all the talk will be about ‘is his head elsewhere?’ and along those lines, so it creates a situation and opens the door for criticism.
“I’m told they came to a private agreement a while ago that he would be leaving, whatever the reasons may be for that, but they didn’t have to make it public.”
Why have Man United agreed to let Casemiro leave?
Casemiro has been a key part of Man United’s midfield and has enjoyed a resurgence in his form this season and particularly under Michael Carrick.
However, it was understood Casemiro would have to accept a pay cut if he were to remain with the Red Devils due to his £375,000-a-week wages.
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson told Football Insider that Man United will save around £20million per year by letting the midfielder leave.
Football Insider revealed on 26 October that Man United will not trigger Casemiro’s contract extension, but could offer him a new deal on reduced wages.
Instead, they have opted to let him leave upon the expiry of his current deal to cut his wages from the bill and aim to replace him in the transfer market.
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