Manchester United seal transfer deal for Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro

By Kevin Dotson, Aleks Klosok and Ben Morse, CNN

Manchester United has reached an agreement with Real Madrid to sign Brazil midfielder Casemiro, the English Premier League side announced on Friday.

United is set to pay Madrid $60 million up front with $10 million in add-ons for the midfielder’s services, British media reported on Thursday.

“Manchester United is delighted to announce that the club has reached agreement with Real Madrid for the transfer of Casemiro,” the club said in a statement announcing the news. The transfer is subject to the agreement of personal terms, UK visa requirements and a medical.

“Casemiro has played over 500 professional games, including 63 at international level for his native Brazil. He has won 17 major honours in his illustrious career including five Champions League titles and the Copa America,” the statement added.

“We all look forward to welcoming Casemiro to Old Trafford.”

The news follows previous comments made by Real manager Carlo Ancelotti, who confirmed that Casemiro had expressed to him his intention of leaving the club.

“He wants to take on a new challenge, the club understands,” Ancelotti told reporters at a press conference on Friday ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga encounter against Celta Vigo.

At the time, Ancelotti said negotiations were still “ongoing.”

The Brazil international has won three La Liga titles and five UEFA Champions Leagues since joining Real Madrid in 2013.

The 30-year-old, whose current contract runs until June 2025, has made 222 appearances for Los Blancos with 24 goals to his name.

The defensive midfielder would become Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag’s fourth addition of the summer, with the club having already signed left-back Tyrell Malacia, midfielder Christian Eriksen and defender Lisandro Martínez.

United is currently bottom of the Premier League having endured a torrid start to the new season with back-to-back defeats in its opening two matches. Last Saturday, United was humbled 4-0 away at Brentford, after which Ten Hag said his team’s plan was put “in the bin.”

“They (the players) make bad decision, and this is football. It’s a game of mistakes and we get punished,” ten Hag said afterwards.

“It’s naïve how we played today. You have to play more direct. We attracted them; space was high on the pitch … We will learn, we have to learn. But it’s no good, it’s quite clear at this level.”

United hosts Liverpool at Old Trafford on Monday in a clash between two of the league’s fiercest rivals.

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