Casemiro's first year: The facts and figures
Casemiro became one of the most decorated players to arrive at Manchester United, when his signing from serial Champions League winners Real Madrid was announced a year ago today (Tuesday).
After seven trophy-laden years at the Santiago Bernabeu, the South American sought a new challenge last summer and he found it in North West England where Erik ten Hag was still in the early weeks of his Reds revitalisation.
The story of Casemiro's first year
Casemiro has become a true fan favourite since signing from Real Madrid 12 months ago. Here's why...
ARRIVAL
In fact, the Dutchman was preparing for only his second home match as United manager when Casemiro's transfer was announced on ManUtd.com and the United App, 15 minutes before kick-off against Liverpool.
The Brazilian was presented to an excitedly receptive crowd and although he didn't kick a ball in anger that night, it could be argued that he already had a positive impact on the team.
Ten Hag's men triumphed 2-1 under the Old Trafford floodlights, against a side that had inflicted a heavy double defeat in the previous campaign.
APPEARANCES
Casemiro had to wait only a few days to make his United debut and again the outcome was an improvement on the preceding season, as three away points were picked up at Southampton where we were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw 12 months before. Our new signing came on for the final 10 minutes, to help see out a much-needed 1-0 win.
The Brazilian went on to play in 51 of our 59 games after he signed last season, a figure which made him the fifth most-deployed Red. Only two of the four men who made more outings, Bruno Fernandes (59) and Marcus Rashford (56), are still at the club, following this summer's departures of his compatriot Fred (56) and long-serving goalkeeper David De Gea (58).
That statistic clearly underlines both Casemiro's durability in his early 30s and his status as a key component in Ten Hag's impressive revamp. In short, if the Brazilian was fit, he started. Unless he was suspended, that is - the midfielder missed seven Premier League games in total due to either red cards or an accumulation of yellows.
Casemiro brought more than just steel and guile to Ten Hag's reshaped United midfield in his first campaign, he also added goals.
In a fashion that was sometimes reminiscent of a former no.18, the Brazilian banged in a highly respectable seven in all competitions - the same tally Paul Scholes produced in our 2006/07 title-winning season.
Only four Reds outscored Casemiro in 2022/23 - Marcus Rashford (30), Bruno Fernandes (14), Anthony Martial (9) and Antony (8), while Jadon Sancho matched him. His header to open the scoring in the Carabao Cup final triumph made the shortlist for our Goal of the Season award, eventually won by Antony's effort against Barcelona.
Casemiro puts United in front
United's Brazilian midfielder heads the ball past Loris Karius
Casemiro's habit for collecting winners' medals continued in his first year as a Red, thanks to the afore-mentioned glory in the Carabao Cup - the club's first trophy for almost six years.
On an individual level, he signed off the Premier League season in style with a fan-voted awards double in May. As well as winning our Goal of the Month accolade for the first time with an audacious bicycle-kick winner away to Bournemouth, he was also named Player of the Month for the second time after his earlier success in October.
Casemiro's first full year at the club ended with the start of his second season, as he played the full 90 minutes of both our opening home win over Wolves and away trip to Tottenham.
He now has a total of 53 appearances to his name in the Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Europa League and will be looking forward to adding a fifth competition to that list as a United player, when he resumes his love affair with the Champions League next month.
Our no.18 will no doubt watch the group-stage draw with great interest on Thursday 31 August and privately recall his almost inevitable previous meetings with the sides we'll face. His vast experience in Europe's elite tournament can only be an asset to Erik as the manager plots the way forward.