Ian Wright felt Jamie Carragher’s comments were ‘disrespectful’ (Pictures: Getty)
Ian Wright has criticised fellow pundit Jamie Carragher for ‘disrespecting’ Casemiro after Manchester United’s dismal 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Erik ten Hag’s reign as United boss reached a new low on Monday night as Palace clinched a remarkable victory through Michael Olise’s brace and goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell.
It is the first time Crystal Palace have ever recorded a league double over Manchester United and the shocking result will only intensify scrutiny over the future of Ten Hag.
Carragher described United’s Monday Night Football performance as ’embarrassing’ and singled out Casemiro for criticism, claiming it was clear he can no longer play at the elite level.
‘Casemiro should know tonight as an experienced player that he should only have another three games left at the top level – the next two [Premier] league games and the [FA] cup final – then he should be thinking I need to go to the MLS or Saudi,’ declared the Sky Sports pundit.
‘I’m deadly serious – his agent, the team of people around him, they need to tell him: this has to stop.
‘We are watching one of the greats of the modern time, playing in the best midfields we have seen who have dominated Europe – him holding, [Toni] Kroos to one side, [Luka] Modric to the other was one of the best midfields.
Carragher said Casemiro was finished as an elite player (Picture: PA)
‘It could easily go up against the Barcelona midfield that we all loved of [Sergio] Busquets, Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta. So he’s been an absolute great.
‘I am nowhere near on a level of what that man has achieved, [winning] Champions Leagues, playing for Brazil and Real Madrid.
‘But I always remember something when I retired myself, and there was a saying I always remember as a footballer: “Leave the football, before the football leaves you.”
‘The football has left him – at this top level. He needs to call it a day at this level of football and move.’
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Casemiro won five Champions Leagues and spent almost a decade at Real Madrid before joining Manchester United in 2022.
The 32-year-old initially impressed at Old Trafford but his performances have dropped off this season, not helped by the fact he has been forced to drop into defence due to United’s injury crisis.
Wright believes Casemiro would be performing much better in a more functional side and says Carragher’s comments about the Brazilian were ‘disrespectful’.
‘I wanted to mention Casemiro quickly because he’s been one of the main talking points after that game,’ the former Arsenal and England striker said on the Wrighty’s House podcast.
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‘We saw Jamie Carragher mention him on the show, about how great he’s been over the years and that maybe he should stop now and go to the MLS or Saudi which I thought was really quite disrespectful if I’m being honest.
‘When you look at Casemiro and what United have always needed, he was really good when he came and I don’t think he thought for one minute that he would be in such a disorganised situation at this point in his career.
‘To go to Manchester United and play at that stadium and that stage of his career would have been so hard for him to turn down.
‘He would never have seen United in the position they are in now and didn’t think he’d be getting so exposed by the team.
Crystal Palace thumped Manchester United 4-0 (Picture: Getty)
‘Whatever people say about him, I don’t think he is done. I don’t think he is. You can see we’re talking about a world-class player who’s played in a world-class team. A club of United’s stature should have players who can help him.
‘People say he’s 32 so he must be gone, no. I was still okay at that age. You’re not over. It’s all about the players and the structure around you. He needs more help and he’s not got it.’
Manchester United, sitting eighth in the Premier League, have three more league games to play, hosting current leaders Arsenal on Sunday before finishing the campaign against Newcastle United and Brighton.
The struggling Red Devils could yet end a disappointing season by winning the FA Cup as Ten Hag’s side meet Manchester City in the Wembley final on May 25.
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