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John Obi Mikel urges Manchester United to let go of Casemiro

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John Obi Mikel urges Manchester United to let go of Casemiro

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has urged Manchester United to part ways with veteran midfielder Casemiro and invest in a younger, more dynamic player who can cope with the demands of the Premier League.

Casemiro, who joined United from Real Madrid in 2022 for a hefty €70.65 million, enjoyed a successful career at the Spanish giants, winning 18 major trophies, including five UEFA Champions League titles.

His debut season at Old Trafford saw him contribute seven goals and six assists in 51 appearances, raising expectations for his continued impact.

However, Casemiro’s performances have recently dipped, and Mikel Obi has been vocal in his criticism of the Brazilian midfielder.

Speaking on his ObiOne Podcast, Mikel highlighted the challenges Casemiro faces in the Premier League, particularly due to his age and declining mobility.

“The Premier League is the most difficult league, fast-paced and dynamic. If you’re not young enough, you’re not quick enough, you’re not mobile enough, you’re going to get found out,” Mikel said.

“That’s what keeps happening to Casemiro. If he has one good game, it doesn’t mean he’s changed, he’s still the same player.”

While Mikel expressed admiration for Casemiro’s illustrious career and success at Real Madrid, he emphasized that the midfielder’s aging legs are no longer suited to the intense demands of top-flight football in England.

“I love the guy, he’s played for Real Madrid, he’s won everything in his career. But his legs are gone. Manchester United needs to get another midfielder,” Mikel concluded.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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