After watching its midfield get played off the park against Brighton and Brentford in successive weeks, Manchester United acted decisively by luring five-time Champions League winner Casemiro from Real Madrid for a transfer fee that could potentially rise to $82.4 million.
Desperate times call for desperate measures at the world's third-most valuable club, and the Red Devils ultimately paid the second highest fee ever for a player in their 30s, trailing only the $103.6 million that Juventus shelled out for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018.
Casemiro was the youngest member of Real's "Bermuda Triangle" midfield (because that's where the ball "disappears"), but after eight years of playing alongside Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modrić and World Cup winner Toni Kroos, the Seleção member must now elevate the performances of Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford.
Casemiro has arrived at Old Trafford.#MUFC pic.twitter.com/BuW4SjLrzK
— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) August 22, 2022
Casemiro says its the prospect of returning United to its former glory that's enticed him into signing a four-year deal and not the wages, but "the Tank" has earned a lucrative raise on what he was previously earning at the Santiago Bernabéu. He's now one of the game's best paid players.
Man Utd Wages 2022-23: 15 Highest Earners At Old Trafford
#12. Victor Lindelöf (Age: 28 | Contract through: 2023-24)
$141,180 per week or $7,361,534.62 each year
#12. Fred (Age: 29 | Contract through: 2023-23)
$141,180 per week or $7,361,534.62 each year
#12. Lisandro Martínez (Age: 24 | Contract through: 2026-27)
$141,180 per week or $7,361,534.62 each year
#12. Donny van de Beek (Age: 25 | Contract through: 2024-25)
$141,180 per week or $7,361,534.62 each year
#10. Christian Eriksen (Age: 30 | Contract through: 2024-25)
$176,475 per week or $9,201,918.28 each year
#10. Luke Shaw (Age: 27 | Contract through: 2022-23)
$176,475 per week or $9,201,918.28 each year
#9. Harry Maguire (Age: 29 | Contract through: 2024-25)
$223,473 per week or $11,652,530.30 each year
#8. Marcus Rashford (Age: 24 | Contract through: 2022-23)
$235,300 per week or $12,269,224.40 each year
#7. Bruno Fernandes (Age: 27 | Contract through: 2025-26)
$282,360 per week or $14,723,069.20 each year
#6. Anthony Martial (Age: 26 | Contract through: 2023-24)
$294,193 per week or $15,340,076.20 each year
#5. Raphaël Varane (Age: 29 | Contract through: 2024-25)
$400,000 per week or $20,857,160 each year
#4. Jadon Sancho (Age: 22 | Contract through: 2025-26)
$411,765 per week or $21,470,595.10 each year
#3. David de Gea (Age: 31 | Contract through: 2022-23)
$441,290 per week or $23,010,140.34 each year
#2. Casemiro (Age: 30 | Contract through: 2025-26)
$441,640 per week or $23,028,390.40 each year
#1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Age: 37 | Contract through: 2022-23)
$452,941 per week or $23,617,657.30 each year
