'Terrible' - Jamie Carragher slams 'panic' Erik ten Hag signing at Manchester United

Former Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher has described Manchester United's decision to sign Casemiro from Real Madrid in August 2022 as a 'terrible buy' amid his recent downfall.

Though currently sidelined with a hamstring problem, the Brazilian, when he has played this season, has regressed at an alarming rate, failing to offer United the same standard of quality he produced so often last season. He was one of the best new signings in the Premier League last term, producing a series of eye-catching performances, helping United finish third in the table and win the Carabao Cup.

Deployed alongside Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes in the engine room for the most part, Casemiro solved United's midfield woes, providing them with the control and defensive presence they had previously been lacking. This season, however, he has not got anywhere close to matching those levels.

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Carragher, who has been a vocal critic of Casemiro in recent months, believes United's decision to sign him when they was done in a 'panic'. The Reds turned to the Brazilian after failing to bring Frenkie de Jong to Old Trafford from Barcelona.

"When you look at Man United buying Casemiro – I don't care how well he did last season – that's a terrible buy, from a business and club point of view," Carragher told CBS Sports. "That's just a panic.

"£70million on a guy who's 30, 31 on a five-year deal, on massive money. I think he's on the way down now… who's going to sign him?"

The Brazilian, who is not expected to play again this side of Christmas, has been heavily linked