Manchester United has decided not to activate Casemiro's contract extension clause! The team is like a different side without him, but Sir Ralph is very determined.

Casemiro has worked hard to reestablish himself as an indispensable player for Manchester United. English media described how the Old Trafford crowd chanted his name so loudly that the sound caused ripples on the surface of the River Irwell, a small canal running alongside the Theatre of Dreams.

In the match where Manchester United beat Brighton 4-2, 33-year-old Casemiro contributed with both a goal and an assist, outperforming Carlos Baleba, whom Ruben Amorim wanted to sign during the summer window, even scoring right in front of him. The Brazilian defensive midfielder’s early-season form has nearly matched his first season after joining United from Real Madrid, a year when he was fully deserving of the club’s Player of the Year award.

It’s important to highlight that during Amorim’s early tenure, especially after the 0-2 home loss to Newcastle, Casemiro had almost no playing time. At that point, Manchester United tried multiple times to offload him, eager to move him on. Therefore, his current strong performances leave an even deeper impression.

Amorim also mentioned Casemiro’s efforts to prove himself after the match. "He has vast experience and sets an example for everyone," Amorim said. "Initially, he was last in the pecking order among midfielders, even behind Toby Collyer. But he never gave up and kept fighting. Now, he’s back in the national team. He’s very important to us; today he covered a lot of ground, constantly moving forward and then tracking back. I’m very pleased with him, and teammates should look up to him as a role model."

Statistics show that Manchester United is a completely different team with or without Casemiro, especially defensively. Of the 16 goals conceded this season, only 3 were conceded while the "Fat Tiger" was on the pitch. The last time United conceded a goal with Casemiro playing was back in August during the 3-2 win over Burnley.

There is no other midfielder in the squad who can replace Casemiro: every time Uruguayan defensive midfielder Ugarte starts, Manchester United loses; and when United led Brighton 3-0 at the 70th minute, Amorim substituted Casemiro with Cody Menoe, and Brighton nearly equalized.

Though Casemiro is older and has reduced mobility, his excellent positional awareness ensures Manchester United’s defensive stability. With no European competitions this season and an early exit from the League Cup, the total number of matches is just over 40, which benefits Casemiro as he only needs to play about one match per week.

However, Football Insider revealed that Manchester United has confirmed they will not trigger the one-year extension clause in Casemiro’s contract. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS management team believe that despite his strong revival, Casemiro will turn 34 next February, and extending his contract for one more year is not cost-effective.

Casemiro is one of only three players at Manchester United earning a weekly wage over £300,000. If the club qualifies for the Champions League again this season, his salary would rise back to £350,000 per week. To stay, he would need to accept a pay cut, and a significant one at that.

Even playing only one competition this season, Casemiro has been unable to last a full 90 minutes in any match. He has yet to complete a full game, partly due to his accumulation of yellow cards. In the first nine rounds, he received five yellows, including a red card after two yellows in the match against Chelsea. Frequent fouls leading to bookings are also a result of his declining fitness, forcing him to foul at times out of necessity.

If Manchester United return to European competition, Casemiro will inevitably lose his status as an undisputed starter, and it would be unreasonable for a rotation player to earn £350,000 per week. New signings Cunha, Mbemo, and Sheshko earn around £150,000 weekly. Next January, Casemiro will be free to negotiate with overseas clubs or choose to renew with United at a salary cut exceeding 50%.