Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has strongly criticized Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher for his harsh comments about Casemiro during Sunday’s coverage of Manchester United’s defeat to Liverpool. The Brazilian midfielder was substituted at halftime after a poor first half, where his mistakes contributed to Liverpool’s first two goals.
Following the match, Carragher remarked that Casemiro could no longer perform at the highest level, suggesting that the veteran should “leave the football before the football leaves you.” These comments did not sit well with Ferdinand, who labeled them as “highly disrespectful,” particularly given Casemiro’s track record and importance to Manchester United.
Ferdinand, speaking on his podcast, defended the former Real Madrid star, emphasizing his significant contributions in the previous games of the season. He argued that Casemiro has been one of United’s standout players and that it’s unfair to judge him based on one poor performance.
“I heard Jamie Carragher say ‘leave the football before the football leaves you’ and I just think that’s highly disrespectful,” Ferdinand said. “Especially given what Casemiro has won, there’s more to it than just a few mistakes. In the two games before Liverpool, he’s arguably been Man United’s best player.”
Ferdinand also pointed out that Casemiro is being asked to fulfill roles at United that he wasn’t required to do at Real Madrid. At Madrid, Casemiro’s primary responsibility was defensive, providing cover and security while allowing other players to dictate the game. Ferdinand suggested that expecting Casemiro to adapt to a different style of play at this stage of his career is unrealistic and contributes to his struggles.
Ferdinand’s defense of Casemiro highlights the challenges veteran players face when transitioning to new roles and systems, especially in a team like Manchester United, where expectations are always high.
