‘I think he’s been BRILLIANT’: Paul Scholes heaps praise on Casemiro and claims the Manchester United midfielder is ‘as close to Roy Keane as you’re going to get’ amid impressive debut season at Old Trafford
- Casemiro has hit the ground running after joining United from Real Madrid
- Scholes is a huge fan of the Brazilian and says he has been ‘sensational’ so far
- The ex-United midfielder feels he has similar qualities to old team-mate Keane
Paul Scholes believes Casemiro is a carbon copy of former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, heaping praise on the midfielder for a ‘brilliant’ start to life at Old Trafford.
Casemiro has hit the ground running since arriving from Real Madrid last summer, racking up 31 appearances for the club while proving one of Erik ten Hag’s most important players.
Eyebrows were raised when United forked out £70million to sign the 31-year-old, who won five Champions Leagues and three Spanish titles in his time at Madrid, yet those doubts were quickly dispelled by a string of superb performances.
He has maintained that level of form throughout the campaign, with his experience in the middle of the park helping Ten Hag’s men keep pace with Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League title race, and Scholes can see similarities between him and Keane.
‘Casemiro has been sensational really,’ Scholes told United’s website. ‘He has great experience, winning so many times with Real Madrid as well, and is invaluable to the younger players around the squad.
Paul Scholes believes Casemiro (L) is a carbon copy of Man United legend Roy Keane (R)
‘It’s almost like he’s a coach on the football pitch. You’ve seen the difference from when he’s come into the team and what he’s made [happen]. He has great experience and I don’t think he gets the credit for the way he plays. He is a really good passer of the ball, which surprised me a little bit, when you think you saw Luka Modric and Toni Kroos as the playmakers at Real Madrid.
‘I’ve heard so many times, as well, that’s [Casemiro] is probably the best holding midfielder as well. I don’t see him as a holding midfielder. He’s a proper Manchester United midfielder that gets involved in everything. You see him up the pitch, you see him defending, you see him controlling the game at times.
‘He’s probably as close to Roy Keane as you’re going to get. I think he’s been brilliant.
‘I think “holding midfielder” just does him a little bit of an injustice.’
At 31, Casemiro will struggle to emulate Keane’s achievements at United despite his impressive start, given the Irishman won seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League in 480 appearances for the club.
But Scholes is not the only admirer of the former Madrid maestro, with Owen Hargreaves also waxing lyrical about the impact he is having at Old Trafford.
Hargreaves said about Casemiro: “The biggest difference he made is his first pass is forward. He breaks up the play as good as anyone but if you watch him, his passing is always forward and that’s what Scholesy did best.
‘Sir Alex always said, in transition, play the ball forward if you can, didn’t he Scholesy? I think that’s the biggest difference.
‘Obviously, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes’s balance is brilliant. It’s a shame Eriksen isn’t fit but I think he makes a huge difference. I’m with Scholesy, I think his passing is super underrated as he always plays forward.’
