Casemiro contract expiry, wages: Is Jamie Carragher right about Man United midfielder?

Manchester United’s season took another sorry turn when Erik ten Hag’s injury-hit side were ransacked by a rampant Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Michael Olise scored twice as the hosts ran out 4-0 winners and it was a particularly chastening night for Casemiro, who was humiliatingly left on the turf by the Palace winger before he netted the opening goal.

The former Real Madrid midfielder was pressed into action as an emergency centre-back for the fourth consecutive match and found himself overwhelmed alongside Jonny Evans — United’s 14th centre-back pairing of 2023/24.

Casemiro was dribbled past seven times on the night, enduring an ordeal far removed from his performances last season. As Ten Hag got United back into the winner’s circle with a Carabao Cup triumph, his €70.65m signing from Madrid was a symbol of their progress.

An outlay that made him the second-most expensive 30-something of all-time behind Cristiano Ronaldo felt justified as Casemiro’s elite experience and mentality elevated United. He scored the opening goal in the Wembley triumph over Newcastle United.

A week later, the Red Devils were hammered 7-0 by Liverpool at Anfield and, in many respects, they have not recovered.

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This period has seen Casemiro’s stock fall considerably, from a talismanic leader to an expensive, over-the-hill drain in the popular imagination.

Speaking on Sky Sports after the Palace game, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher tried to speak respectfully regarding Casemiro’s wider achievements as a five-time Champions League winner. But he had no doubt that the 32-year-old’s performances over recent months drew an obvious conclusion.

"I said at halftime that [Ten Hag] had to