Manchester United need Erik ten Hag to be right about Casemiro role

When Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo were last teammates they played a significant part in Real Madrid's march to a fourth Champions League crown in five years, a side also strengthened by the presence of Raphael Varane at centre-back.

Thirteen years after Sir Alex Ferguson said he wouldn't sell Real Madrid (or, "that mob" as he referred to them) a virus, the flow of traffic is heading in the other direction, albeit Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford came via Juventus.

Varane and Casemiro both swapped the Bernabeu for United but it feels like it's still Real Madrid who are getting the better end of the deals.

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Varane has shown his class for United but he's been injured too often and will miss another game this week, having injured his ankle in the 6-3 defeat to Manchester City at the weekend. That will take the tally of games he's been unavailable for since signing for a potential £42miillion last season to 18.

At least Varane is in the team when he's fit and available. Casemiro and Ronaldo watched the wreckage of Sunday's derby humiliation from the Etihad subs bench.

The former came on for the final half an hour, his fourth appearance off the bench in the Premier League, but Ronaldo was spared action, with Erik ten Hag insisting that was due to the respect he has for the 37-year-old's career.

Casemiro and Ronaldo have spent a lot of time sat next to each other on the bench in the Premier League this season and if it feels like the curtain is coming down on the former's Old Trafford career, it should just be beginning for the Brazilian defensive midfielder.

The £60million fee - potentially rising to £70million - United paid Real for the services