Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is reported to have stayed at the club due to “big changes” at Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia that prevented a transfer from happening.

Injury and loss of form last season had led to widespread speculation that Casemiro would move on just two years after arriving in Manchester from Real Madrid.

The Saudi Pro League, where big name players are handed enormously lucrative contracts was the most obvious destination. But no transfer was ever seriously rumoured during pre-season and Casemiro has started 2024/25 in Erik ten Hag’s preferred starting XI at Old Trafford.

The United manager said after the Community Shield there is no “signal” that Casemiro will leave.

Fabrizio Romano has clarified that the Brazilian was “available” for transfer but that things couldn’t ultimately proceed with Al Ittihad because of changes at the top of the club, putting the brakes on several possible deals.

“Casemiro was made available on the market, then from Saudi there were negotiations, there were discussions,” Romano said on his YouTube channel. “One of the big changes was that the Al Ittihad president resigned, they wanted to sign Casemiro, but then the deal collapsed.”

The transfer specialist went on to name approaches for Rennes defender Arthur Theate, who has since joined Eintracht Frankfurt, and former AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli that fell apart.

Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Fabinho and Houssem Aouar currently ply their trade with Al Ittihad, who were Saudi Pro League champions in 2022/23 before the recent boom really began. Kante has been linked with Barcelona, who are light in midfield due to injuries.

As for United, Scott McTominay is the subject of renewed interest from Fulham, who had seen two offers for the Scotland midfielder turned down earlier in the transfer window. The Cottagers are tipped to make a fresh bid for McTominay if resurrected talks are positive.

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