Erik ten Hag explains why Casemiro is not getting picked to start

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has explained why summer signing Casemiro has not been starting games since his arrival from Real Madrid.

United spent £70m to sign Casemiro from Real Madrid over the summer, but the Brazilian midfielder has barely featured for the club.

Casemiro – who signed a four-year deal at Old Trafford – is yet to start a Premier League game, making four substitute appearances thus far.

He played 90 minutes as United were beaten at home by Real Sociedad in their Europa League opener, and returned to the bench for the win over FC Sheriff.

United face Cypriot side Omonia in their third Group E match on Thursday and boss Ten Hag was quizzed about Casemiro ahead of the fixture.

‘We will play tomorrow our best team, we have to construct a team because we want a competitive culture,’ Ten Hag said.

‘It had nothing to do with Casemiro, it had all to do with Scott [McTominay]. When he wasn’t in the team at Brentford, we lost.

🗣 "It was a reality check."

Erik ten Hag reflects on Manchester United's 6-3 defeat to Man City pic.twitter.com/nMweqIRGs1

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 5, 2022

‘Casemiro will have an important role, we know his background, the titles he’s won, you see every day in training.’

Former England striker Darren Bent suspects Ten Hag didn’t want to sign Casemiro and feels he ‘doesn’t trust’ the 30-year-old.

‘I just question whether Casemiro was someone Ten Hag truly wanted,’ Bent told talkSPORT.

‘You look at Casemiro’s resume and what he’s done in the game, played at the highest level, won the biggest competitions by the way and in the biggest game of Manchester United’s season so far [against Manchester City], he doesn’t go in.

‘I just question first of all whether he was Ten Hag’s signing. And secondly, I get it with the legs that [Scott] McTominay’s got, can get about, puts himself about, has done well in this run Manchester United have been on.

‘But that was a question mark when a lot of people were [talking about] Casemiro and I went, ‘Oh, Manchester United’s biggest game of the season and he’s not starting’. That made me think if Ten Hag does trust him or really wanted him.’

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