Liverpool Didi Hamann insists Casemiro is a 'great player' but doesn't think the Real Madrid star will lead Manchester United back to the top of English football
United agreed a fee of around £70m including add-ons for the 30-year-old earlier in the week in what has been a difficult transfer window for new boss Erik ten Hag. The club had targeted Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong as their midfield primary target. But they have been able to strike a deal with the Dutchman and have now turned their attention to Casemiro, whose signing has not gone through in time to make his debut in tomorrow's home clash with Liverpool.
Ten Hag's side have lost their opening two Premier League fixtures of the new season after being beaten 2-1 at home by Brighton and Hove Albion and then suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat at Brentford last weekend.
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And Hamann, a Champions League winner with the Reds told the The Mirror : "Casemiro is a great player - you only have to look at what he has won at Madrid. But he isn't going to United to win the league, is he?
"We're only two games into the season and it's already obvious that United aren't going to be anywhere near the title race. They are years behind Liverpool and Manchester City - and they are losing ground on Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal as well."
Hamann thinks it will take 'years and years' for United to be Premier League title contenders once again.
"Signing Casemiro is a small step forward - but he's not the answer. It is going to take years and years of backing Erik ten Hag in the transfer market before United are challenging for the big trophies again. But that's been obvious since [Sir Alex] Ferguson retired - and look at how many managers they have sacked in the process."
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