Teddy Sheringham says star Casemiro reminds him of club legend Roy Keane, with the Brazilian filling a void in the team that has opened up in recent years.
The Brazilian arrived from in the summer for £60m, which was suggested by some to be a high price for the midfielder, but he is already justifying the expense.
Billed as a holding midfielder, the 30-year-old has shown his attack-minded talents as well, already netting four goals, while he has been an overall positive influence on the side.
Former Red Devils forward Sheringham says Casemiro is filling the role Keane used to in midfield, bringing not only quality but the perfect mentality to the side.
‘All I will say about is I think he is like a Roy Keane that they have been missing for the last eight years,’ Sheringham told talkSPORT.
‘That midfield general that has that desire and understanding of the game of when to do what to make sure that his team are performing to the best of their capabilities.’
Keane himself will likely be happy with the comparison having heaped praise on the Brazil international since his arrival at Old Trafford.
‘’I think he’s a brilliant player,’ Keane told . ‘You give him credit, he turns up every week, you know what you’re going to get which is a huge compliment to a player.
‘’You fall into this trap of not knowing if players are going to turn up – he does, he turns up every week. He’s six foot, won the big prizes, gone to United, settled in very well.
‘Labelled a couple years ago unfairly that he’s a sitting midfielder, he’s far from it.
‘He links up play, already got a goal in the World Cup, he’s brilliant but he turns up and has a great attitude.’
Last month he added on Casemiro: ‘He’s been a huge signing. Over the last few years Man United, particularly in and around the middle of the park, have lacked a quality player, a big personality, a guy with a bit of presence. Again, he’s a top quality player and we see it week-in week-out. He affects games.
‘Before he came there was this perception that he was a sitting midfielder because he was working with players at Real Madrid who were more attacking-minded, but we’re now seeing over the last few months he’s got so much quality going forward in terms of the final pass, and he’s getting goals as well as being very good defensively so huge signing for Manchester United, he looks like a really big personality which United needed.’
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