Casemiro's refusal to renew with Manchester United revealed; feels Sir Jim disrespects him! May take a pay cut to join Serie A

Manchester United's defensive midfielder Casemiro has officially announced he will leave after this season. His contract with the club expires in June, with a one-year option to extend. However, due to his weekly wage of £350,000, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has demanded a salary reduction for renewal. The 33-year-old "Fat Tiger" feels disrespected by Sir Jim and the club’s top management, leading him to part ways.

Casemiro's time at Manchester United has been a rollercoaster. He was outstanding in his first season, becoming the team's key player, but his form noticeably declined afterward, only to improve again over the past year. Currently, under Carrick, he remains an essential starter, maintaining consistency whether paired with Bruno Fernandes or Cody Gakpo.

Although Sir Jim and the INEOS management team were willing to renew Casemiro's contract this season with a pay cut, their attitude towards him in 2024 has already left the Brazilian midfielder dissatisfied. According to the UK’s Sun newspaper, despite proving himself once more, Casemiro hasn’t forgotten Sir Jim’s offense and has therefore decided to leave with pride.

In fact, even before the acquisition of Manchester United was finalized, Sir Jim publicly criticized the club’s £70 million transfer fee to bring Casemiro from Real Madrid and the four-year contract given to him, calling it a foolish move. In March 2025, Sir Jim again named five players he considered overpriced and underperforming in a public interview, with "Fat Tiger" included among them.

“Look at the players Manchester United bought this summer — these are not our signings: Antony, Casemiro, Onana, Hojlund, Sancho,” Sir Jim told BBC. “These are past deals, whether we like them or not, and we have to inherit these problems and find solutions. We need time to transition from the past to the future. Some players aren’t good enough; some may be overpaid. Building a team fully under our control will take time. Manchester United is in a transformation phase, moving from past to future.”

Now that Casemiro has proven his quality through hard work, he feels it’s time to move on. This season, he has appeared 29 times for Manchester United, starting in 24 matches. Of the 5 games he missed, two were due to suspension from red or yellow cards, and only one was due to rest. He scored 5 goals, 4 of which came from set pieces.

Since reclaiming his starting role in the Europa League knockout stage last February, Casemiro has been an indispensable part of the midfield. However, he is well aware that, approaching 34, he has benefited from Manchester United’s single-competition schedule. If the club returns to the Champions League next season, the demands of playing twice a week could significantly impact his performance. Rather than face renewed doubts, he prefers to part ways gracefully in advance.

Casemiro will leave Manchester United this summer on a free transfer, ending his four-year stint at Old Trafford. Although Major League Soccer, the Saudi Professional League, and Brazilian clubs have shown interest, the UK’s Sun reports that Casemiro believes he can still compete in other top European leagues.

Provided he stays injury-free, Casemiro is expected to be selected by Ancelotti for Brazil’s squad at this summer’s World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, likely as a starter and captain. After the 2026 World Cup, he hopes to move to Serie A, where many of his former teammates play, such as McTominay and Hojlund at Manchester United, and Modrić at Real Madrid.

During Manchester United’s mid-month break, Casemiro vacationed in Florida with his family, enjoying the sunshine and beaches in Miami. His wife Anna also visited Las Vegas. This sparked rumors of contact from Beckham and Messi’s Inter Miami. Additionally, his original club São Paulo from Brazil has offered a two-year contract.

However, Casemiro prefers living in Europe. He still owns property in Madrid, and continuing his career in Europe is very appealing. Sources say Casemiro has privately expressed confidence that he can still compete at a high level on the continent. His former teammate Modrić, who remains AC Milan’s core player at 40, has also inspired him.

Of course, joining a Serie A club would require a significant pay cut. For example, Modrić earns €6.5 million annually at Milan, roughly €130,000 (£110,000) per week. But Casemiro is willing to accept a lower salary in Italy because he believes he will receive greater respect from club officials and fans there. At 34, he sees this as his prime years rather than facing constant aging doubts like in the Premier League.