Manchester United need to sell one of last season's most important players

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It's been a rollercoaster few years for Casemiro at Manchester United.

Having spent Erik ten Hag's first summer in charge chasing Frenkie de Jong, United eventually admitted defeat and switched their attention to Casemiro.

A fee of £60million rising to £70m was agreed, with rivals fans scoffing at the figure given Casemiro had turned 30 earlier that year.

They weren't laughing for long as Casemiro showed he hadn't lost the quality that saw him contribute to five Champions League triumphs during his time at Real Madrid. The Brazilian transformed United's midfield, leading them to a third-place finish in the Premier League and scoring in the final of the Carabao Cup as United brought their trophy drought to an end.

But then the scoffs from rival fans started to return.

Casemiro started to show his age in his second season in England. He struggled to keep up with the pace of the game and it became clear why Real Madrid were willing to part with the midfielder.

Try as they might, United were unable to move Casemiro on and he would start fewer than half of their 38 league outings last season. And yet, as United entered the knockout stages of the Europa League, it was clear Casemiro still had a part to play at Old Trafford.

Having been knocked out of both domestic cup competitions and with even a top-half finish looking out of the question, United soon realised it was Europa League or bust.

Casemiro was in talismanic form in Europe, with the slower pace of the games allowing him to control the play. He even started to show the threat he had carried in the opposition box during his first season at the club, contributing three assists in the incredible comeback win over Lyon and scoring in both of United's semi-final legs against Athletic Bilbao.

With the success of United's season depending on the Europa League, Casemiro had suddenly emerged as one of the most important players at the club again. However, of course, the story didn't have a happy ending, with the Europa League final defeat condemning United to a season without European football next season. And that's why moving Casemiro on this summer should be one of United's priorities.

Had United secured Champions League football, there might have been merit in keeping Casemiro at the club given his experience in the competition. But with United's season restricted to domestic matters and Casemiro already showing the pace of the Premier League is too much for him now, United need to offload him.

It's been a mixed three years at United for Casemiro, to say the least. From undroppable to unsellable to undroppable in Europe. It's time for him to move on.

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