Casemiro’s exit at Real Madrid signals the end of a glorious era

By Joao Cunha

Casemiro lifting the UEFA Champions League.

Casemiro is about to finalize his shock move to Manchester United after Real Madrid and Manchester United agreed to a deal worth around 60 milliion Euros and that could rise up to 70 million Euros if certain targets are met. This signals the end of the Kroos, Casemiro, Modric midfield or more commonly referred to as the KCM. A midfield that has been together since the 2015-16 season and has been with very few exceptions the starting midfield trio for Real ever since. This transfer signals the beginning of a transition at Real Madrid, as the club already signed Casemiro’s replacemnt in Aurelin Tchoumaneni and could bring in additional midfielder in the transfer window. Still Casemiro is a hard player to replace and his legacy will be cemented as a Real Madrid legend. Before discussing the future I will take a look back at Casemiro and his trajectory at Real Madird.

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Casemiro playing for Sao Paulo back in 2012.

Casemiro began his career at the youth academy of Sao Paulo, and rapidly rose through the ranks as one of the best center-midfield prospects in the world. Alongside Neymar he helped Brasil win the 2011 U=21 World Cup and became a target for all the big European clubs. Despite a promising start to his early career, discipline issues and too much partying threatened to derail Casemiro’s career. He was very inconisitent at Sao Paulo and despite helping the team win the Copa Sulamericana in 2012, he was not a starter for the latter stages of the tournament. He was mainly used a spot-atarter and sub by Sao Paulo manager Ney Franco. Many Sao Paulo fans were displeased with his lack of consistency and when Real Madrid came in with an offer to buy Casemiro for around 10 million Euros, the club was happily accepted. The myth about Casemiro in his early days was that the Sao Paulo fanbase drove him out of the club. Neto a (in)famous pundit in Brazilian TV always mocked Sao Paulo and tyhe fanbase saying that they ruined Casemiro with their strong criticism and that the club lacked patience with the youngster. (Neto also supports the rivals of Sao Paulo, Corinthinans so there is eome bias there.) However that is not entirely the case, as Casemiro showed very few flashes of true star potential at Sao Paulo. He was being beched for the likes of Arsenal-reject Denilson and freaking Toro, it’s not like the club didn’t want him to shine. Casemiro alongside Lucas Moura were the two great prospects Sao Paulo had at the time, one turned out to be a legend and helped Sao Paulo win the Sulamericana scoring in the ifnal, the other didn’t live up to expectations. Lucas Moura was soid for over four times what Casemiro was sold for, and he was considered to be the star of the future, not Casemiro. In fact Real Madrid seizxing a mrket oppurtunity took a small gamble on Casemiro because of his excellent performances at the Under-21 Brazil side, not his form for Sao Paulo. Real Madrid also intially wanted him on loan and put him into the Real Madrid Castilla so they could monitor and develop him. Even Real when they bought him knew he was a project but they felt they could give him the structure and coaching needed to be successful. In 2013 Casemiro’s Real journey began and he would have a meteroic rise to the top.

Casemiro scoring the second goal in Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Juventus in the 2017 UEFA Champions League final.

When Casemiro left for Real Madrid, Sao Paulo fans infamously mocked Real for their transfer. (The UOL comment section at the time was basically Sao Paulo celebraing the fact they got any money for Casemiro some saying they would have driven him to the airport for free.) This sort of doubt although can be laughjed at now, was not without merit at the time. Real were taking a risk on an underachieving talent and he needed time to gain confidence. He started off playing at Real Madrid Castilla and within a few weeks impressed the club so much that Jose Mourinho handed him his Real debut against Betis in the league. In that game he played 90 minutes was very solid defensively and really caught the eye for his positioning sense for such a young player. His passing wasn’t too sharp and he made a few questionable decisions but he certainly had what it took to play for Real Madrid. He dind’t play again the rest of the season but new manager Carlo Ancelotti refused to loan out or sell Casemiro in 2013-14 and he played a lot of games. He mainly came off the bench and started some Copa del Rey games and a few La Liga games but he was improving slowly. The most iconic performance and the turning point of Casemiro’s Real Madrid was a vital Champions League game against Dortmund. Real Madrid were losing 2-0 and couln’t allow Dortmund to score again or else they would go to extra-time, the season was on the line. Ancelotti due to injuries was forced to send in Casemiro with 20 minutes left to try to salvage the tie, and Casemiro performed. He won tackles, shielded a weary defense, earned free-kicks, and organized the team as they held on to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Casemiro proved his worth as Real player and Madrid went on to win the Copa Del Rey and the UEFA Champions League with Casemiro being a key member of the squad. Ancelotti felt he needed more game-time to develop further and he was loaned out to FC Porto where he would have a great season. When Casemiro returned to Real Madrid in 2015-16 he was ready to be a starter.

Casemiro scored an incredible bicycle kick against Atleico Madrid to help Real Madrid win 3-1. It was Real Madrid’s first win in Atletico Madridd’s new stadium the Wanda Metropolitano.

Although Rafa Benitez the new Real Madrid manager in 2015 liked Casemiro and used him in certain games against PSG and other league games, he didn’t use him against Barcelona. The result was a 4-0 beatdown by Barcelona and Benitez would be fired several months later. His replacement Zidane struggled initially and after a 1-0 home loss to Atletico Madrid dropped James Rodriguez to the bench and started Casemiro with Modric and Kroos. The rest was history, as Real went on to nearly win La Liga and veat Barca at the Camp Nou 2-1. In the UEFA Champions League, Casemiro helped Real win the competition arguarbly being man of the match in the final against Atletico Madrid. From that season on regardless of manager Casemiro was an automatic starter as a defensive midfielder. He shielded th back line and did the dirty work which allowed Toni Kroos to pass the ball, and Luka Modric to find the killer pass. He was the bodyguard of the team sticking up for his teammates, never backing down from a tackle, and scoring critical goals as well. In 2016-17 for instance he scored against Barcelona, he netted the winner against Bilbao, hit a tremendous volley against Napoli, and the game-winning goal against Juventus in the Champions League final. He won La Liga for the first time in 2017 and would add two more La Liga titles in 2020 and 2022. He would also score twice against Atletico Madrid in his career, including a bicycle kick at the Wanda in 2019. His goal against Manchester United helpe Real win the UEFA Super Cup in 2017, and he started the 2016 and 2022 finals in which Real won as well. in 2016, 2017, and 2018 he was part of the Real sides that won three straight Club World Cups. in 2018 he also helped Real win their third straight Champions League and becoming a pillar of that side. In addition he would win three Spanish Super Cups in 2017, 2020, and 2022. in 2021-22 Casemiro won his fifth Champions League saving his finest performance against Liverpool. He was outstanding in the final, winning tackles, clearing crosses, earning free-kicks, passing the ball well, he had becoem the defensive midfieler in the world and that final proved it. With all his accolades he started his journey at Real Madrid as young man with a dream a last chance to save his career. He leaves Real Madrid as a winner, a grown adult, and with a priceless legacy that he will leave behind him

Casemiro lfiting his final trophy for Real Madrid the 2022 UEFA Super Cup. Casemiro assisted Alaba in the final and played a great game which turned out to be his last start for the club.

For Real Madrid this loss will hurt as he was still the starter and key member of Real Madrid’s double winning side the previous year. There is no doubt that he will be missed in the short-term. However in the long-term this might have been the right move. Although Casemiro had a great end to last season, he had shown some signs of decline the last two seasons. This was so evident that Real Madrid spent 80 million Euros on his replacement in Aurelin Tchoumaneni this summer so the club were preparing for this day. In that sense the sale of Casemiro just speeds a rebulidning process that is neccessary. Real Madrid canot keep on winning relying on Kroos, Modic, and Casemiro forever. At some point they will have to be phased out of the team and since there’s no ideal time to replace legends it might as well be after a season where Real has been so successful. Real have the replacement for Casemiro in 22-year odl Tchoumaneni who despite his shaky debut is a remarkable talent and was signed to be the heir to Casemiro. He may not be fully ready yet, but if he really is that talented he will come good with time. As for Manchester United, they are signing an excellent player who is also a great leader and will add toughness wo a weak side. Manchester United need more players but Casemiro is a great start and he will be worth the money if he can be supported properly but if United thinks he will be the answer alone they are a bigger mess than previously imagined. For Casemiro this move allows him to double his salary while also getting more years to his contract, in a financial sense it’s a no-brainer. Especvially as Casemiro is not a star attacki8ng player, he doesn’t have the ability to make money out of sponsorships as more high profile players so a salary increase is the best way for Casemiro to make more money. Sporting wise it’s a chasm as Manchester United are currently last place in the Premier League and are in the Europa League. However they are a big club and if Casemiro succeds at Man United he can only increase his legacy. In addition he has won enough trophies and maybe feels that it’s time to take as much money as possible. He is 30 years old and this would be his last big contract so he needs to take advantage of his value while he still can. As for Real Madrid receiving 60-70 million for a 30-year old player that you have a replacement for is good business. They could be hurt short-term and potentially cost them a chance to win the Champions League this season and maybe even diminish their chance of retaining La Liga. Real don’t operate on short-term sucess anymore and for the club the future is the key. In this sense the sale of Casemiro makes more sense. The club isn’t desperate, they have prepared for this day, and they can overcome this loss even in the short-term. Manchester United are desperate, poorly-run, and they need Casemiro in the worst way. This transfer as painful as it is for Real Madrid fans is a sign of a club being run the right way, the emotions of fans are being balanced with financial and sporting reality. Casemiro isn’t getting any younger and shown signs of decline, this season was the best season to sell him off while he still has value. It might be the end of an era at Real but the beginning of a new one that could yield as many titles as the last one.

Real Madrid’s winning machine rolls on as they add another trophy to their cabinet

By Joao Cunha

Real Madrid won their fifth UEFA Super Cup by defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 with goals by Alaba and Benzema.

Real Madrid won yet another trophy defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 to win the 2022 UEFA Super Cup. It’s Real Madrid 5th win in the competition which ties a recird with AC Milan and Barcelona. It is also Real’s 21st European title and 28th major international title which are both records. Real Madrid unlike the many invented and false media narratives surrounding the club have been a well-run club for some time now. Ever since Florentino Perez won back the presidency in 2009, Real Madrid has won a staggering 23 major tropjies in 13 years. A club that has been derided in the past as “chaotic”, “poorly run”, and “underacheivers” are now the symbol of calm, structured, and exceeding their potential. While some rival clubs spend recklessly and mortgage their future just to keep up with Real’s success, the Madrid side has been able to spend within their means and build a strong and competitive team. The UEFA Super Cup win demonstrated some of those traits.

Luka Modric, Casemiro, and Toni Kroos celebrating another trophy with Real Madrid. The midfield trio have been the spine of Real Madrid for 7 years and counting.

Real Madrid unlike many other clubs have a culture of success based on keeping the same core of players together for as long as possible. Many clubs prefer to “freshen” the squad with a host of new signings every year to keep the team motivated. Real Madrid are very different as they have kept players in their team as long as they are still productive and built a culture that holds them accountable. The stars of the UEFA Super Cup yesterday were Real Madrid’s midfield trio of Kroos, Casemiro, and Modric who controlled the game and ran the show for the entire match. It was Kroos who delivered the corner in which Benzema won and Casemiro flicked the rebound onto Alaba for a simple tap-in for the opening goal. Kroos was fantastic especially in the first-half as his passing and control kept Real in good positions. Modric despite having a more quiet game had a vey nice second half as his through balls set up several dangerous Real counterattacks. Casemiro was the anchor of the midfield sweeping up mistakes and defending excellently, thwarting several Frankfurt attacks. The trio really provided excellent structure and creativity that Frankfurt had very few answers for. The KCM as they are known have been starters for Real Madrid for about 8 seasons beginning their partenershup in the 2015-16 season. Eight seasons is a lifetime in football and for a midfield trio to last this long and be so effective is nothing short of remarkable. Although the trio has had its share of bad moments like the entire 2018-19 season, the eliminbations in the Champions League to Ajax, Manchester City, and Chelsea, and the 4-0 defeat last season at home to Barca. Despite some of these poor perfdrmances the club has backed them as managers like Zidane, Lopetegui, Solari, and Ancelotti have chosen to keep faith in the trio and the rewards have been clear to see. Their brilliance has allowed Real to maintain their high level and with the help of a certain veteran striker the team has the firepower to advantage of this trio’s excellence.

Karim Benzema scored the second goal that sealed Real Madrid’s win over Frankfurt.

In the attack there is the presence of Karim Benzema the undisputed best player in the world in 2022 and the current capitain of Real Madrid. He had a critical part to play yesterday winning the header that led to the Alaba goal, and scoring the second goal after Vinicus Junior set him with a nice pass. Benzema is th second-highest goalscorer in Real Madrid’s history with 324 goals only behind the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo. Benzema didn’t have a great start to his Real career struggling to adapt to life in the Spanish capital in his first 18 months at the club. But after a long-term injury sidelined Higuain for several months in 2011, Benzema stepped up and saved his Real career. Although he has had his ups and downs since his breakout 2011 season, he has worked hard for the team and had been a great foil for Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale so they can score goals and succeed. When Ronaldo left in 2018, Benzema assumed the goalscoring responsibility and helped keep Real afloat and even win titles while youngsters like Vinicius Junior and Rordygo developed, and veterans like Bale and Hazard didn’t deliver. Last season when Vinicius Junior had his breakout season, Benzema had his career year scoring 44 goals and being the top-scorer of La Liga and the Champions League. His leadership, quality, and attitude led Real to make some memorable comebacks against PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City to reach the Champions League final. In the final it was Vinicius Junior who scored the winning goal but Benzeam was the main man of the best team in Spain and Europe. Against Frankfurt he put together andther excellent performance, as his goal yesterday sealed the final and guaranteed Benzema would lift his first trophy for Real Madrid as captain. Which considering that he was questioned just 4 years ago for his lack of goalscoring and big-game ability is a stunning turnaround for him. Real Madrid deserve credit as they never lost faith in Benzema and all the managers that came in always defended him even when his output wasn’t there. It’s through the club’s conviction in their players that this winning culture gets formed. They also bring in the right players and managers to supplement these legends as well.

David Alaba scored the first goal for Real Madrid and was vital to the Real Madrid’s success since his transfer in 2021.

Real Madrid in addition to sticking with a core of veteran players which also includes the solid Dani Carvjal, Lucas Vasquez, and Nacho who are vital contributors to Real’s recent succees. Carvajal being an excellent right-back, and Lucas Vasquez and Nacho are valuable squad players. The club also adds key signings to add to the club’s culture. David Alaba the goalscorer of the opening goal is a great example, he signed as a free transfer in 2021 without much fanfare by the fanbase. Many fans wanted Ramos to extend or Varane to stay instead of Alaba. Real wisely didn’t extend Ramos due to his wage demands and injury concerns and sold Varane as he had one-year left on his contract and wouldn’t accept an extension. Alaba was the club’s replacement for Ramos and he delivered an excellent season at center-back even scoring at Barcelona last year and now scoring the winner in a final. Very smart business. Real also signed Rudigger on a free which should add much needed depth to the backline. Real over the past few years have also signed players like Mendy, Courtois, who have become vital starters. Courtois who came up with a clutch save from Cavada in the first-half which kept the match at 0-0 is wideldy considered the best goalkeeper in the world. Mendy is the starting left-back at Real Madrid and is a great defender. Real Madrid signed young playrs who they have nutured like Militao, Valverde, Camavinga, Tchoumaeni, Vinicius Junior andf Rodrygo. Rodygo is a grea super sub who scored many vital goals last season especially in the Champions League. Militao was signed in 2019 to be the successor to Sergio Ramos or Varane and after both exited in 2021 he became the undisputed starter of the team. A strong center-back, he has great heading ability and wins his fair share of tackles, a young star defender that is only getting better. Valverde is a modern-day midfielder who has limitless energy and can play as a box-to-box midfielder or a right-winger/wingback. It is the hybrid winger position that allows Valverde to start for Real Madrid and he is excellent at providing defensive structure to the team. Camavinga is a young midfielder who is used a supersub but could end up being a starter soon, and is more creative than Valeverde. Tchoumaeni is the new signing who should be used as a sub this season but will in due time be the replacement for Casemiro as his defensive prowess and reading of the game is very advanced for a p[ayer of his age. Finally Vinicus Junior is the young star who the ream relies on the left-wing tor pace and a secondary goal-scoring threat for Benzema. He is the man who scored in the 2022 Champions League final dna his assist in the UEFA Super Cup final proves his importance to theteam. But in addition to the players you need someone to manage them.

Carlo Ancelotti (middle of the photo) has now won four UEFA Super Cups which is a record. He is now has won 8 trophies at Real Madrid. 2 UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 UEFA Super Cups, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, 1 La Liga, 1 Copa del Rey, and 1 Spanish Super Cup.

Real Madrid have insistied on hiring player-friendly managers since Mourinho left the club in 2013 with one exception of Benitez. The results have been an overwhelming success. The team has won 17 of their last 19 major finals since 2013, only losing to Atletico in the Spanish Super Cup in 2014 and the UEFA Super Cup in 2018. Managers like Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane have not only brought stability to the club but many trophies. Zidane won 11 trophies in his 2 spells as Real won every final under him (9 for 9) and won two La Liga titles. Carlo Ancelotti the current Real Manager won every possible trophy he could win at Real at least once and has won 8 trophies at the club. Santiago Solari despite having tactical limitaions did win the Club World Cup in 2018 and gave players like Vinicius, Valverde, and Ceballos chances to start games. The only two managers who dind’t win a trophy at Real since 2013 were Rafa Benitez and Julen Lopetegui. Benitez clashed with the veteran players and the squad revolted against his harsh style and he was fired for Zidane’s arrival in 2016. Lopetegui inherited a squad that some infighting and his alck of experience managing Real led to his downfall. Perez as a result of these failures realized that the besrt way to win at Real was to hire a player-first manager and give the players more freedom. Zidane and Ancelotti were idela hires and they help build a machine of sucesss that has translated in a decade of dominance.

The critics are already out after Real won another trophy as if no matter how much Real win it will never be enough for some people. While the club has made mistakes in transfers like signing Hazard, Jovic, Mariano, and resigning Gareht Bale into a long extension, the overall transfer policy has been a massive success. They have the 25th highest net spend since 2013 which is less than clubs like Everton, Leeds, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Arsenal who are nowhere near Real’s standards of winning and sucees. In fact clubs like Leeds and Villa spent years in the second division of English football yet have spent well beyond their means just to maintain themselves in the top-flight. While Real Madrid in the last decade have won four La LIga titles and five Champions League titles, and were one of the few clubs able to make a profit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The club did this through a series of cost-cutting measures, lowering all staff salary, not signing any new players for the 2020 transfer window, and selling off players to keep the club in good financial health. Although these measures were criticized by a large segment of the fanbase, the future of the club was put first over any immediate success. When the club had a trophyless season in 2020-21 and Zidane resigned (again) the club could have been in deep trouble. Perez did the right thing and only signed Alaba and Camavinga, sold Varane and let Ramos go as a free agent, and then re-hired Carlo Ancelotti as the manager. The club didn’t overextend itself and although they bid for Mbappe, Perez realistically wanted to get him on a free transfer the next season. Althought the Mbappe move never materialized, trophies did. Three trophies in 2021-22, Spanish Super Cup, La Liga, and the UEFA Champions League sealed a historic season. Real built a winning machine by not being flashy, overspending, and hiring stylish modern managers. They did it the old-fashioned way with smart timely signings, devloping young players, keeping a winning core together, and building an atmosphere of winning around a great man-manager. These things don’t make Real “sexy” or “cool” to the media and pundits. Being smart and calm is never a good way to get headlines and clicks. However the model of sustainability and calm has been the key to transform Real Madrid into this title winning monster. The lack of chaos, the relative stability, and the commitment to winning above all else has transformed a once downtrodden club into the powwehouses they are today. Any Real Madrid who supported the club prior to the last decade understands full well the mess it used to be. Chaotic clashes with managers, political beefs with players, expensive and bad signings, and inept managers were the norm for Real between 2003-04 and 2008-09. The club as a result only won 4 trophies during that time period and never reached the semi-final of the Champions League. Barcelona were the club that was well-run, played attractive football and were the club to be envied. However fast forward to 2022 and the roles are mostly reversed. Barca are the club in financial crisis, have political tensions, and may not be able to tegister players for the La Liga season. They are the ones who spend recklessly and without abandon and fire managers constantly. They are the crisis club because they went away from their model and adopted a terrible business and sporing model, chasing short-term success instead of long-term stability. While Real Madrid have changed for the better, they are now focused on the future and can withstand a bad season without too much chaos. The club due to its long-term planning understands the most important thing is that to be able to continue with another era of success they must build and maintain a culture. It doesn’t have to do with a style of play, but an ethos of winning and playing vertical attacking football. It may not always entertain the critics but it keeps the fanbase happy and united. Real Madrid’s identity is about trophies and scoring lots of goals to do it. Real Madrid are not measured by how the pundits like them but how the world respects them, Real Madrid as a club have always done it their way and the proof that is working was on display aaainst Frankfurt. A simple effective 2-0 win that helped Real win their foruth trophy in the last eight months. Trophies are the best way to silence critics and no one does it better than Real Madird.