CASEMIRO has been dropped from the Brazil squad just days after his disastrous performance against Crystal Palace.
The Manchester United star was left out of the Brazil squad for this summer’s Copa America.
Casemiro, who was named the captain of Brazil last year, wasn’t the only notable absentee from manager Dorival Junior’s 23-man list.
Man Utd teammate Antony was left out while Spurs striker Richarlison and Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus were also omitted.
Casemiro may be the most notable of the Premier League quartet to miss out on a spot though, with the 32-year-old a regular feature in the Brazil squad for most of his career.
The defensive midfielder has made 75 appearances for the Selecao and was a crucial cog in the team for two World Cups and three Copa Americas.
But his club football has taken a tumble in recent months with the former Real Madrid man struggling for form in Erik ten Hag‘s under-performing United team.
Casemiro came in for a slew of criticism earlier this week for his part in the Red Devils’ embarrasing 4-0 defeat to Palace at Selhurst Park.
United’s injury crisis meant the natural midfielder was deployed at centre-back by Ten Hag.
And despite his best efforts he was unable to adapt to the unfamiliar position and looked out of place during the Eagles mauling.
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Former Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher took aim at Casemiro for his below-par showing and even suggested the star should step away from top level football and head to a less competitive league.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, he slammed: “I said at half-time he’s [Ten Hag] got to bring Casemiro off.
“I know he’s got kids on the bench but I think Casemiro, deadly serious, should know himself tonight as an experienced player that he should only have another three games left at the top level.
“The next two league games and the [FA] cup final. And he should be thinking ‘I need to go to the MLS or Saudi’. I’m deadly serious.
“He’s ageing, the people around him they need to tell him this has to stop.”
He went on to add: “He’s been an absolute great. I am nowhere near on a level of what that man has achieved. Champions Leagues, playing for Brazil, playing for Real Madrid.
“But I always remember something when I retired myself, there was a saying I always remember as a footballer, ‘leave the football before the football leaves you’.
“The football has left him at this top level he needs to call it a day at this level of football and move.”
Not all pundits felt that Carragher’s scathing review of Casemiro was fair, however, as Arsenal icon Ian Wright leapt to the defence United’s £70million signing.
Speaking on Wrighty’s House podcast, he said: “‘I wanted to mention Casemiro quickly because he’s been one of the main talking points after that game.
“We saw Jamie Carragher mention him on the show, about how great he’s been over the years and that maybe he should stop now and go to the MLS or Saudi which I thought was really quite disrespectful if I’m being honest.”
Casemiro may be deployed at the back once again this weekend as United’s injury woes continue and Ten Hag has confirmed Lisando Martinez won’t be making his return.
The Old Trafford outfit welcome league leaders Arsenal as they try and bounce back from their Palace pummelling and will know they have a tough task on their hands against Arteta’s high-flying Gunners.
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Athletico PR), Ederson (Manchester City)
Defenders: Beraldo (PSG), Militao (Real Madrid), Gabriel (Arsenal), Marquinhos (PSG), Danilo (Juventus), Couto (Girona), Arama (Athletico MG), Wendell (Porto)
Midfielders: Pereira (Fulham), Guimaraes (Newcastle), Luiz (Aston Villa), Gomes (Wolves), Paqueta (West Ham)
Forwards: Endrick (Palmeiras), Evanilson (Porto), Martinelli (Arsenal), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savinho (Girona), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
