Manchester United’s new signing Casemiro hopes his teammate Cristiano Ronaldo stays at the Premier League club amid intense speculation over the 37-year-old’s future. Ronaldo, who re-signed for United from Juventus last season, reportedly wants a move away from United following the team’s failure to qualify for the Champions League this season. “We are talking about one of the best players of all time,” Casemiro said.
“He knows that I respect him a lot. I hope he stays with us, because he is a great player. “He gives you a lot of goals, he is a winner, he is a leader. He is so important for us. We approached each other because of the language, too. Since the first day here, he has helped me with everything. He is helping me a lot. I really hope he stays with us.”
Ronaldo was left on the bench as Manchester United secured their first win of the season with an impressive 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Monday. However, United have continued to say that the player is not for sale and after the Liverpool game, manager Erik ten Hag reiterated his stance that Ronaldo can thrive in his system.
“I think he can,” said Ten Hag who brought Ronaldo on as a substitute in the 86th minute. “The whole of his career under several managers he did, several styles and systems. He always performed, so why can’t he do this?
“His age is not an issue. If you are good enough and you’re old and you still deliver performances, you are also good enough.” Brazil midfielder Casemiro joined United from Real in a deal reported to be worth up to 70 million euros ($69.80 million). His move to Old Trafford was a surprise to many, with the Brazil midfielder leaving the current Champions League holders for a club that finished sixth in the Premier League last season. But the 30-year-old has stressed he is eager and ready for a new challenge after nine years in Madrid.
“As I said in my farewell at Real Madrid, I felt that it was an end of a cycle,” he said. “I had the sensation that I gave everything for that club. I’m 30 years old, I’m feeling so strong. I want to learn a lot. I want to learn new things. I want to change.
“If it had happened three years ago, maybe I wouldn’t have this desire to change. But I’m still 30 years old. So, this desire is too good for me. I’m feeling like a boy. I want to play, I want to help Manchester United.” And despite United not being in the Champions League this season and having not won the Premier League title since 2013, Casemiro insisted he still has ambitions to challenge for the game’s biggest trophies.
Reds plan to regroup
Embattled Liverpool are hurting after their torrid start to the Premier League season but the squad must find a way to regroup and become the team of old that opponents feared facing, manager Juergen Klopp said on Friday.
Liverpool, who were runners-up last season, are 16th in the standings with two points after three games. Klopp’s side are seeking their first win when they host promoted side Bournemouth on Saturday. “My job is to put things right, I could learn a lot from life when things didn’t go well. “It’s part of the job, to regroup, to find a perfect way together again to fight the outside world and not suffer,” Klopp said.
