Not only Casemiro – Neville expects ‘terrific’ star ‘liked’ by Carrick to leave Man Utd | OneFootball

Gary Neville believes Casemiro won’t be the only midfielder who’s set to leave Manchester United this summer, as Manuel Ugarte could follow suit.

The Brazilian veteran has already announced his departure at the end of the season. With seven goals in his tally, the 34-year-old has been enjoying his most prolific campaign in European football, sparking pleas from his teammates and supporters to remain at Old Trafford for at least another year.

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However, the management’s decision to part ways with the high-earning midfielder has been set in stone.

Manuel Ugarte has been unconvincing at Man Utd

With Casemiro set to bid the MUFC supporters farewell at the end of the season, INEOS will have to find a replacement capable of filling his large shoes.

Interestingly, Ugarte was once considered Casemiro’s long-term replacement. However, the Uruguayan has been delivering underwhelming displays since making the £50m move to Man Utd in the summer of 2024. Not even a reunion with his former Sporting Club manager, Ruben Amorim, was able to reignite the flame.

In fact, many Man Utd supporters perceive the 24-year-old’s second-half introductions as a dark omen since the club tends to concede goals with him on the pitch, as the stats suggest.

In recent weeks, Michael Carrick offered some backing for the under-fire midfielder.

“I like Manu a lot, he’s been terrific around the group with his attitude and how we go about it, his training qualities, he’s got a lot of good attributes, when the team is winning, there is a big upside to that,” said the interim Man Utd manager when discussing Ugarte’s situation at the club.

Gary Neville thinks Ugarte is on his way out of Man United

Despite Carrick’s public support, Ugarte continues to be linked with a move away from the club this summer, with Galatasaray emerging as the leading candidate in the race for his signature.

Gary Neville believes the former Sporting and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder is destined to leave Man Utd at the end of the season.

“Casemiro is leaving, and I think Manuel Ugarte will leave,” said the former Man Utd captain during his appearance on Sky Sports (via the Mirror).

Therefore, the Red Devils need to sign at least two new midfielders in the summer, and Neville reveals which players they must pursue in terms of characteristics.

“They need two really good central midfield players. Probably one that’s more positional, like a Michael Carrick-type, and one that’s more of a destroyer.”

Neville didn’t mention any specific names, but Adam Wharton is arguably the most suited to the ‘positional’ midfielder role among United’s most popular targets, while Carlos Baleba is tailor-made for the enforcer role.

However, with Crystal Palace and Brighton potentially requesting figures close to £100 million, INEOS are unlikely to sign both players in one summer. The Premier League giants are likely to make one big investment in addition to a more affordable one, potentially from abroad.