Forget Mainoo & Maguire – Epic comeback was impossible without ‘colossal’ 8/10 star; Should Man Utd keep him? | OneFootball

Manchester United veteran Casemiro rolled back the years to play an instrumental role in the team’s astonishing comeback against Olympique Lyonnais.

The Red Devils can only salvage their miserable campaign by lifting the Europa League and subsequently secure their place in next season’s edition of the Champions League.

However, their double header against Lyon proved to be a gruelling back-and-forth battle with a plethora of shocking twists and turns. With 10 minutes remaining in extra-time, the Reds found themselves staring at elimination, as 10-man OL were leading 6-4 on aggregate.

Luckily for United, Casemiro rose to the occasion, and was arguably the most influential player in the epic comeback. The Brazilian won the spot-kick converted by Bruno Fernandes, before producing two sublime assists for Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire.

Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst described his display as ‘colossal’, while handing him a rating of 8/10.

Can Casemiro resurrect Man Utd career after instrumental role vs Lyon?

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The former Real Madrid star has been plying his trade at Old Trafford since 2022, but he has largely failed to justify his £60 million price tag or his £350,000 per week salary.

Nevertheless, the 32-year-old has been showing great signs of improvement in recent weeks, and his supreme display on Thursday came to confirm his timely revival.

It should be noted that Casemiro remains the club’s highest earner, and INEOS were keen to offload him in January, but to no avail. The Brazil international still has another year left on his contract, but the sensation is that the management will try to cut his time at Carrington short.

However, with the midfield enforcer seemingly enjoying an Indian summer under Ruben Amorim, would the club reconsider this decision?

At this stage, keeping this Casemiro doesn’t look like the worst scenario in the world. But at the end of the day, it’s hard to imagine the club’s directors turning their backs on any opportunity to offload their highest earner, especially after being included in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s five-man list of ‘overpaid’ players.