Tim Sherwood has backtracked on the Manchester United star (Picture: Sky Sports)
Ex-Premier League manager Tim Sherwood has admitted he was ‘so, so wrong’ about Manchester United midfielder Casemiro.
Sherwood was one of a number of pundits who questioned United’s £70m move for Casemiro last summer.
The Brazilian midfielder lifted five Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles at Real Madrid but there was a feeling among some that he was past his best and overpriced given his age.
Despite these concerns, Casemiro quickly established himself as one of the most important players in Erik ten Hag’s squad and helped Manchester United lift their first trophy since 2017 last weekend.
The 31-year-old rose well to guide Luke Shaw’s inviting cross past Newcastle back-up goalkeeper Loris Karius, before Marcus Rashford continued his sensational run with United’s second before half-time.
Ten Hag was full of praise for Casemiro after Manchester United won the EFL Cup and former Tottenham boss Sherwood admits his initial opinion of the midfielder was ‘so wrong’.
‘When the deal was done, I thought Casemiro came to Manchester United to fill the till up,’ Sherwood said on Premier League Productions.
Casemiro scored in United’s EFL Cup final victory (Picture: Getty)
‘He’s done everything at Real Madrid, he can’t possibly have the hunger still. That’s what I thought at the time.
‘I was so, so wrong. From the moment he scored that equaliser at Stamford Bridge [in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in October], I knew this boy was the real deal.
‘He’s incredible. He puts out fires, any sort of danger he puts it out, but he can also play. To come in with that desire, at his age, you have to take your hat off to him.’
Casemiro, meanwhile, insisted the EFL Cup triumph was ‘just the beginning’ for Ten Hag’s Manchester United after adding another piece of silverware to his trophy cabinet.
The Real Madrid hero said: ‘I left a great club, came to England and people wondered why. Moments like these are the answer.
‘We all know this is only the beginning, but it doesn’t mean we can’t be happy. It’s one more trophy for me and I always welcome it, regardless of the competition. I celebrated a lot because I’m enjoying it here.’
Manchester United, currently sitting third in the Premier League, return to action on Wednesday night with a FA Cup clash against David Moyes’ West Ham.
MORE : Gary Neville says Man Utd signing Casemiro has been ‘devastating’
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Sherwood has backtracked.