Izuchukwu OkosiReal Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that the La Liga champions will sell Brazilian defensive midfielder Casemiro to Manchester United.
United are desperately searching for world class signings after a shambolic start to the season saw them lose two games on the bounce.
Ancelotti spoke to the media on Friday in his pre match press conference ahead of their league game against Celta Vigo.
Carlo Ancelotti on Casemiro swapping the whites of Los Bloncos for the Manchester United’s Red and black said:
“We’ve spoken this morning (on Friday). He wants to try a new challenge, a new opportunity. I understand this, also the club does.
“Because of what he’s done for this club and for this team, we need to be respectful of this. There are negotiations between the clubs. He is still a Real Madrid player but it looks like now he is willing to depart.
“Because of what he’s done for this club and for this team, we need to be respectful of this.
“We respect Casemiro’s decision to leave the club. We didn’t try and convince Casemiro to stay. I listened to his desire. I respect him.
Ancelotti further revealed that the 30-year-old Brazilian will not be part of Saturday’s away league game which kicks off at 9pm.
“Casemiro will not play on Saturday. Replacement? We have signed Tchouaméni and he’s one of the best on the market. Then we have Kroos and Camavinga.
“Yesterday I realised it was a real thing [Casemiro to Man Utd]. My plans won’t change.
Speaking on the squad depth in midfield, the former Chelsea, AC Milan and Everton manager stressed that they can cope with the loss of Casemiro.
“My plans are not gonna change with Casemiro leaving as we have Modrić, Kroos, Tchouaméni, Ceballos, Fede Valverde, Camavinga.
“Six midfielders are enough for this season. They’re very, very good.
“When we won 22 games in a row, Kroos was my defensive midfielder, he can obviously play there if needed.
According to transfer sources in Spain, Casemiro has communicated also to his Real Madrid teammates that he has accepted Man United’s bid and has already said his goodbyes to all of them.
Casemiro and his camp are waiting for clubs to complete the agreement then he will travel to England.
However there is no chance for him to play in the Premier League match against Liverpool on Monday night.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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