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Casemiro’s revelation that he’s leaving Manchester United has reshaped how the membership approaches the summer season switch window.
Even earlier than the announcement, it was clear that strengthening midfield sat excessive on INEOS’ agenda.
Now, with the Samba star departing, United’s push to bolster the engine room is now not merely about signing a high midfielder; it’s also about actively in search of his good substitute.
The South American midfielder’s uncommon mix of elite defensive acumen, management and massive‑recreation expertise has been invaluable. His affect has been so evident that United usually look uncovered and have so usually fumbled matches every time he’s absent.
Changing him is not going to be simple. United’s greatest transfer is to seek for these uncommon midfielders who mix defensive solidity with fashionable, excessive‑depth, ball‑taking part in qualities, very like Casemiro, whose attributes are so onerous to seek out.
Casemiro’s inheritor
The suggestion is that Elliot Anderson may very well be that participant.
However what if United fail to win the Anderson race? Effectively, whether or not they succeed or not within the chase for the Nottingham Forest star, INEOS shouldn’t overlook Lisandro Martinez as a pure match for Casemiro’s profile.
Analyst Ben Mattinson as soon as argued that Martinez possesses the whole lot wanted to grow to be a world‑class defensive midfielder, and just lately we got a transparent glimpse of what he meant.
Martinez sensible as DM versus Aston Villa
Within the second half of United’s 2‑1 defeat to Aston Villa, Martinez stepped into the defensive midfield position and delivered a superb efficiency.
Stationed in entrance of the defence, he sprayed passes ahead at will and drove the ball himself with authority.
Lisandro Martinez in central midfield (45 minutes) vs Aston Villa
| Statistic | |
|---|---|
| Minutes performed in midfield | 45 |
| Aerial duels received | 100% |
| Complete touches | 38 |
| Passes tried | 32 |
| Passes accomplished | 29 |
| Passes into the ultimate third | 5 |
| Ball recoveries | 3 |
| Pictures | 1 |
Stats above underline how influential he was on the centre of the park. And whereas that was only a single efficiency, even at centre‑again, we’ve got usually seen the 5ft 10 defender pinging balls excessive, splitting defences with lengthy passes, and carrying possession ahead as an unorthodox playmaker in his personal proper.
Lisandro Martinez is sort of a quarterback 🏈@ManUtd 🔴 pic.twitter.com/J3rPKVLiwM
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 5, 2026
Casemiro’s management, battle, need, and keenness are sometimes praised, and Martínez embodies all of those qualities as effectively.
Furthermore, the ex‑Ajax man’s elite studying of the sport, aggressive tackling and superior ball‑taking part in expertise imply he can present the identical defensive metal and composure in midfield because the United quantity 18.
Nonetheless make the deliberate midfield signings
After all, this tactical tweak doesn’t imply INEOS ought to abandon different midfield pursuits. They will nonetheless transfer for Carlos Baleba and Anderson whereas concurrently changing Martinez as an possibility for his or her engine room.
Yoro and Heaven’s pathway cleared
In the end, shifting Martinez into midfield would clear the pathway for Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven to progress at centre‑again. With Martinez predominantly at midfield, they’d get extra alternatives to characteristic.
It also needs to encourage United to pursue one other bodily dominant centre‑again like Tarik Muharemovic, unveiling a monstrous defensive pairing harking back to the Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic period.
Featured picture Carl Recine through Getty Pictures
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