Jamie Carragher makes honest Casemiro assessment – two years after brutal comment
The in-form Man Utd midfielder, who has two games left at the club, described Carragher’s remarks as ‘disrespectful’
Jamie Carragher admits his famous “leave the football before the football leaves you” remark about Casemiro two years ago was “too harsh and premature” ahead of the Man Utd midfielder’s final games for the club. The Brazilian, who signed on a £350,000-a-week deal from Real Madrid in 2022, endured a difficult period on the pitch in 2024, particularly struggling in United’s 4-0 defeat away at Crystal Palace, triggering Carragher’s comments on Monday Night Football . “Leave the football before the football leaves you,” Carragher said.
“The football’s left him at this top level. He needs to call it a day at this level of football and move. ” Two years on, Casemiro is enjoying his best period in a United shirt – though he will leave at the end of the season – and this week described Carragher’s comment as “disrespectful.
” Now, Carragher has responded as the 34-year-old bids farewell to Old Trafford. “In retrospect, do I regret my comments about such a legendary footballer? Yes and no,” he said in his Telegraph column.
“It must be acknowledged that the implication that Casemiro was ‘finished’ at the highest level was too harsh and premature. My argument was he would be better heading out to the MLS, or accepting offers from Saudi Arabia, because he would never get back to anywhere near his best to achieve the same heights of winning the Champions League or league titles at Old Trafford as he did so brilliantly at Real Madrid. At the time, those observations were not controversial….