Rio Ferdinand defends Casemiro against Jamie Carragher’s scathing criticism.
The former Manchester United defender has come to the defense of Casemiro, slamming fellow pundit Jamie Carragher‘s “disrespectful” comments about the Brazilian’s performance.
Carragher’s scathing remarks resurfaced after United’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool, where Casemiro’s errors led to two goals.
Ferdinand took issue with Carragher’s suggestion that Casemiro should “call it a day” and move to Saudi Arabia, a comment that went viral earlier this year.
Ferdinand deemed the remark “highly disrespectful” and urged Carragher to reconsider his harsh assessment.
Casemiro’s display against Liverpool was undoubtedly disappointing, but Ferdinand believes the midfielder deserves more respect.
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Ferdinand said:
“I heard Jamie say ‘leave the football before the football leaves you’ – I just think that’s highly disrespectful.
“I think it’s really disrespectful, especially given what my man’s won – they don’t have a trophy cabinet big enough for what he’s won.
“There’s more to it than the fact he’s made a couple of mistakes.
“I think if you look at the two games before this season, he’s arguably been Man United’s best player.
“It’s easier to say that he’s gone, he’s finished. He’s almost 32, but when I look at him, I just feel that he’s being asked to do a lot of things like play 30-yard balls and dictate the pace of the game etc.
“These are things that Man United would never have recruited him for because he’d never been asked to do this at Real Madrid.
“He was clearing up, like security in front – slide-tackling, covering all the gaps and then giving it to other people to play football.
“But now he’s being asked to do things that he’s never done before, so he’s going to make mistakes because it’s not his natural game.”
Casemiro is a highly decorated midfielder, boasting an impressive haul of trophies including three LaLiga titles, five Champions Leagues, and a Copa America win.
Since joining Manchester United for £70m, he has made 87 appearances, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists, while also winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
