Casemiro skips goodbye press conference as Man Utd star chokes up | Football | Sport
Casemiro waved goodbye to the Old Trafford faithful for the final time on Sunday afternoon, with the Brazil international unable to hide his emotions. He was spotted looking visibly emotional as he bid a teary farewell to the Manchester United faithful, having originally joined the club in 2022. And he became so choked up that he later skipped a planned farewell press conference.
During his time at United, Casemiro was part of the squad that won the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024. It wasn’t always perfect, but Casemiro has enjoyed a resurgence in recent months under Michael Carrick and has been influential in the Red Devils securing Champions League qualification.
Casemiro was due to speak to members of the media following his on-pitch ceremony, but the ex-Real Madrid ace pulled out at the last minute. It was a decision that raised eyebrows in the media room, but all became clear later on when it was announced Casemiro didn’t host his press conference because he was too emotional.
It’s said the iconic midfield anchor was struggling to keep himself in check and didn’t think he’d be able to speak coherently enough. Instead, the 34-year-old pulled out, but it won’t impact his relationship with the fans, who spent the afternoon match against Nottingham Forest chanting his name.
He wrote on Instagram: “There are places we pass through in life… and there are places that become part of who we are. Manchester will forever be my home. To the city, the club, and every supporter, my sincerest thank you.
“These past four years have been unforgettable, filled with moments my family and I will carry with us for the rest of our lives. There simply aren’t enough words to describe the happiness and warmth we’ve felt here. Thank you for every cheer, every memory, and for making us feel at home from the very first day. Forever a Red Devil.”
When asked about Casemiro’s farewell, Michael Carrick told Sky Sports: “Casemiro has been a very good player for a long time. We appreciate everything he has done and especially since I have been here he’s been excellent. Part of football is that things come to an end and you have to evolve and adapt. There have been big players over the time I’ve been here who have left the club. It’s a challenge but we thank him for everything he’s done.”
United guaranteed Champions League football during their recent win over Liverpool, and also secured third place with time to spare, meaning they’ve had nothing on the line heading into the final few matches. It’s expected that Michael Carrick will be given the job on a full-time basis following his impressive interim spell.
On the end to the season, he said: “We wanted to finish strong. We’ve put ourselves in a good position and to have today in front of our supporters. We wanted to win the game, made it a bit difficult for ourselves at times but I thought some of the football was fantastic and we could’ve won by more. It was a good day for us to win the game and see the atmosphere in the stadium was special.”
