At this stage of Casemiro's career, perhaps the most apt summary is that he is discovering one of the irrefutable facts of elite sport in difficult ways. In the 50s of the 20th century, the American sports journalist Wilfried Diamond said it best: "For a champion, age is a very important topic, because it is an opponent that he cannot defeat." ”
Casemiro, 32, may be upset when people say he can't run. Perhaps he would prefer to refuse to be persuaded in an almost charity tone, for his own sake, for his reputation and self-esteem, so be it.
Other players, including many former teammates, have stayed longer on football's top stage but have not suffered such insults. For example, Luka Modric and Kroos, his old Real Madrid team-mates, who once formed a "ceremonial midfield" together.
However, Casemiro's decline was evident and the evidence was piling up before United's heavy defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday.
At Selhurst Park, the fragility of the fat tiger is a recurring theme. He lost his mobility and he seemed to know that on the pitch, which affected his judgment and he wanted to make up for it, but it seemed to be too hard. In an underfunctioning, problematic team, no teammate can go the extra mile for him, which makes it difficult for him to play well.
Therefore, there is reason to believe that United should part ways with Casemiro this summer. Carragher's assessment is correct: a player like Casemiro should not be the subject of the whole Premier League.
Casemiro has won five Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles and 75 selections for the Brazilian national team. He's had some happy moments in Manchester and has kept Old Trafford fans entertained.
Unfortunately for Casemiro, there is no indication that his dip in form is temporary. With a whopping £350,000 a week, it's no surprise that this would displease the people now in charge of Manchester United's football operations, right?
When new owner Sir Ratcliffe conducted due diligence on the club last year, he could hardly believe that United would spend so much on a player in his 30s. Ratcliffe wondered what was the logic behind giving such a new signing a four-year contract with the option to renew for another year. Has anyone ever thought there is no resale value? Was Casemiro really worth that much money before he was 35?
Ratcliffe concludes that it was a shockingly bad deal from a financial standpoint. A year has passed, can anyone say that he is wrong?
After Manchester United's defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday, Sky Sports pundit Carragher put it more bluntly: "As an experienced player, Casemiro should know that he has three games left in the top flight, two league and FA Cup finals. Then he should think: 'I have to go to the MLS or Saudi Arabia.'" ’”
"His agent and his team had to tell him, 'Let's stop here.'" He's an absolutely great guy and what he's achieved, I can't compare to it, he's won the Champions League, he's a Brazil international, he's played for Real Madrid. But I always remember something when I was retiring, as a footballer there was a saying, 'Leave football before it leaves you'. And now, football has abandoned him. ”
Casemiro also has reason to say that due to injuries to Manchester United's main defenders, he was forced to take a cameo role at central defender. Statistically, Manchester United have conceded more chances in the league than any other team in the Premier League this season (yes, more than Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton). Therefore, Casemiro should not be the only player to be roasted on the fire.
We can go ahead and column the data. After 36 rounds, United have been shot on goal more times (618) than Derby County in the same period in 2007-08 (569).
For a club of United's size and goals, that kind of statistic means failure. It would be nice if Ten Hag could keep his job next season, and you can analyse each of these United players and why only a few have performed so well.
Casemiro's performance at Selhurst Park was equally shocking.
Eze, Ollise and other players who can break through, all staring at him. For the first time in the Premier League this season, a player has been beaten by an opponent with the ball eight times in a single game. In short, he is a threat to his team.
Carragher said: "They [have] give him a little money and make some deals. At the level of this player, he shouldn't have allowed himself to go through this. He's a good player and he doesn't deserve to be ridiculed like that. ”
Perhaps the saddest thing is that United fans are sometimes reminded of why Casemiro was so suitable at Real Madrid in the first place.
Not for now, though.
A closer look at a few games since the start of the year reveals that Casemiro has always pretended to drop back defensively and will run away when it is time for him to take responsibility. Seeing him robbed, more and more people felt hopeless. He seemed to know he had to stop opponents who were too fast to catch up, and then did everything he could to convince the referee that he hadn't committed a foul.
His body language – hands on his hips and cheeks puffed out – says a lot about that.
There are some difficult negotiations to be done. The brutal truth is that Casemiro has become part of the problem, not part of the solution.
And United need to start working through some of those issues.