Manchester United midfielder Fred has revealed he spoke to Casemiro about a move to the Premier League club while the Brazilian was playing with Real Madrid.
“I found out well before they announced it. A few months before, we had already talked, me and him. We had a nice chat, he had asked how it was, I explained everything to him, what was happening at the club,” the United player told TNT Sports.
“It was not one of the best moments, but as I said, it would be a fresh start with the arrival of a new coach.”
The first rumours of a possible departure of the Brazilian from Madrid began to emerge on 17 August and two days later, on 19 August, both clubs made the transfer official for €70m plus €15m in variables.
Casemiro, a key figure at Real Madrid since his return from his loan spell at Porto in 2015, felt he had done everything with the La Liga side and was looking for new a challenge.
“Since the Champions League final, my cycle was over,” Casemiro said at his farewell press conference after the club’s tribute to him.
GSFN | Kieran Quaile
