Casemiro is fighting for his Manchester United career with Saudi Arabia waiting

Which version of Casemiro returns from a hamstring injury remains to be seen and Manchester United are hoping it's not the player who looked to be entering the winter of his career.

Casemiro was outstanding last season but he was disappointing in the first quarter of this campaign before picking up an injury in November, which led to suggestions of decline.

The midfielder celebrates his 32nd birthday next month and there is interest from Saudi Arabia, a nation who are happy to pay millions to sign the biggest names.

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Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar, N'Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez have all flocked to Saudi for the payday, despite accusations of sportswashing and concern over their human rights record.

The profile of those who are lured to Saudi for millions of pounds in wages is generally the same: players coming to the end of their careers after winning trophies with some of Europe's biggest clubs.

Casemiro, who spent a hugely successful nine years with Real Madrid, is a global name and he ticks the boxes. He is still a Brazilian international and the Saudis would consider it a coup to lure him to the Kingdom.

Football director John Murtough made a trip to Saudi in December and it's a market that United still haven't utilised how they perhaps could, with other Premier League clubs taking full advantage.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have all sold players to Saudi league clubs, but Alex Telles is the only player United have sold to that market and they received around £4million for him.

United have been the worst buyers and sellers in football for a decade and true to form, they could only secure a