Manchester United officially announced Casemiro's departure this summer! The reason revealed in advance, new rising star likely to benefit from contract extension

Manchester United officially confirmed on Thursday that 33-year-old Brazilian midfielder Casemiro will depart at the end of this season. Despite having a one-year priority renewal clause, the club declined to activate it because of his high weekly salary of £350,000. "Big Tiger" will leave on a free transfer and can join any club he desires. His Red Devils teammates and supporters have also expressed their respect for him.

Casemiro joined Manchester United in 2022 from Real Madrid for a hefty £70 million. He has appeared 146 times, scoring 21 goals, with his total appearances expected to include the final 16 Premier League matches. In his first season, he scored in the League Cup final and helped the team finish third in the Premier League, becoming the soul of the squad that year.

However, Casemiro’s form noticeably declined afterward, and before Sir Jim Ratcliffe took over the club, he publicly criticized Casemiro’s transfer. Sir Jim stated that some Manchester United players were not good enough and were overpaid, accusing the club of financial waste. Although Casemiro’s form improved over the past year, he still failed to win over Sir Jim. Notably, before announcing his departure, Casemiro was named man of the match in Manchester United’s 2-0 derby win over Manchester City.

Manchester United’s statement mentioned that fans will bid farewell to Casemiro during the final home game of the season against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.

Casemiro said: "I will carry Manchester United in my heart for life. From the first day I stepped into this beautiful stadium, I felt the passion of Old Trafford and the love we share with our fans for this special club. It’s not time to say goodbye yet; in the next four months, we can create many wonderful memories together. We still have many goals to fight for, and I will continue to give my all to help the club succeed."

On his social media, Casemiro added: "Knowing when each chapter ends, knowing when to say goodbye, especially when you feel you will be remembered and respected forever. There are four months left for me to give my best for the Manchester United badge and our goals. I will always hold respect and love for Manchester United and its amazing fans. Once a Red Devil, always a Red Devil."

The UK’s The Sun revealed that Casemiro requested the announcement of his impending departure, and the club agreed. Sources also indicated this plan suited the club’s intentions, as they had already decided not to renew his contract.

It is generally believed that Casemiro wanted to clarify his future to avoid rumors about staying another year, allowing both himself and the team to focus on the Premier League top-four battle. His agent and the transfer department will have more time to plan ahead. His contract expires on June 30, with five months remaining.

Recent reports disclosed that if Casemiro starts all remaining matches and reaches 35 starts, the renewal clause would automatically trigger. However, this is unlikely to happen. As one of the first players signed under Ten Hag, Casemiro knows it’s time to say goodbye.

From Manchester United’s perspective, Casemiro, who will turn 34 next month, leaving will save money and increase financial flexibility, enabling the club to sign a strong new midfielder. Insider sources say his departure will free up more space this summer for reinvestment in midfield. The club’s popular targets are well known: Elliott Anderson, Adam Walton, and Carlos Baleba.

Casemiro has consistently been one of the highest earners at Manchester United. Calculations by "Jingji Network" show that over four years, the club spent about £119 million on him. Was it money well spent? Opinions vary, but from owner Sir Jim’s viewpoint, it certainly wasn’t a good deal.

One point of consensus is that Manchester United performs better when Casemiro is on the pitch, especially this season. This is partly why the club dared to announce his departure early; they trust the former Real Madrid star’s professionalism and believe he will not slack off but fight even harder.

Casemiro is a role model for Manchester United players, having made outstanding contributions and inspiring others by overcoming slumps through hard work and determination. However, his salary is too high, so the club must let him go and seek younger, stronger midfielders capable of handling multiple competitions.

Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano also revealed that Manchester United remain eager to extend the contract of academy rising star Kobe Meno. Following Amory’s departure, the club views this as a priority and plans to show confidence in him, with negotiations ongoing.