Casemiro: Fabrizio Romano issues key update on United ace’s future

Manchester United’s 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on 15 March at Old Trafford underlined exactly why supporters serenaded Casemiro with chants of “one more year,” yet respected transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano says the club have still not opened negotiations to retain the Brazilian beyond this summer.

Casemiro, 34, settled a tight contest with a towering 53rd-minute header from a Bruno Fernandes corner, his seventh goal of the campaign in 29 appearances across all competitions. Ross Barkley’s equaliser briefly threatened to derail United’s push for a top-four finish, but Fernandes assisted Matheus Cunha in the 71st minute before Benjamin Sesko’s late strike secured a win that lifted the Red Devils three points clear in third place with nine league fixtures remaining.

The performance capped a renaissance for the holding midfielder, who struggled for consistency during the 2024/25 season but has flourished under both former head coach Ruben Amorim—forming a disciplined pivot with Fernandes in a 3-4-3 shape—and current caretaker Michael Carrick, who has deployed the Brazilian in a 4-2-3-1 system.

Despite the on-field resurgence, Casemiro publicly committed in January to departing when his contract expires in June. Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, reiterated that United officials have not approached the player about reversing that decision.

“Casemiro already decided in January that he’s going to leave Manchester United,” Romano stated. “That was an official statement, so was not just a rumour or a verbal agreement. At the moment, no one from the club has told Casemiro, ‘Please stay with us for one more season’.”

Romano added that while the club’s hierarchy could yet revisit the situation depending on final league position, managerial clarity and Champions League qualification, “still nothing changed between Casemiro and Utd, apart from the fact that Casemiro is being a fantastic professional.”

Age and wages remain principal obstacles to any extension, with United cognisant that even a short-term deal would only serve as a stop-gap unless a long-term successor is secured in the upcoming transfer window.

For now, the veteran continues to marshal the midfield with authority, leaving fans to savour every remaining appearance while the club weigh a late reprieve against the strategic need to refresh the squad.