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- Casemiro is older than De Jong but has the experience of winning five Champions League titles and playing 63 times for Brazil
MANCHESTER: Manchester United completed the signing of Casemiro for a reported $60 million on Monday, hours after the Brazil international made an emotional departure from Real Madrid after nine years at the Spanish club.
The 30-year-old Casemiro has signed a contract until 2026, with the option of a further year.
He was presented to United鈥檚 fans on the field at Old Trafford ahead of the Premier League game against Liverpool.
鈥淚鈥檓 ending one beautiful journey in Madrid while starting another in Manchester,鈥� Casemiro said in a United statement, 鈥渁s determined as ever to win football matches, win trophies and make our fans proud by bringing success to this great club.鈥�
United have been looking to sign a defensive midfielder during this transfer window and has been closely linked with Barcelona鈥檚 Frenkie de Jong.
Casemiro is older than De Jong but has the experience of winning five Champions League titles and playing 63 times for Brazil.
鈥淐asemiro is a serial winner and one of the best midfielders in world football; his exceptional record speaks for itself,鈥� said John Murtough, United鈥檚 football director.
鈥淗e complements the skillsets of the squad and will be a great addition to the dressing room with his experience, knowledge and character.鈥�
Earlier Monday, Casemiro held a news conference in Madrid, saying it was 鈥渢he hardest decision of my life鈥� to leave the team he joined in 2013 from S茫o Paulo.
It was an emotional farewell for Casemiro, who felt his cycle with the Spanish club ended after the team won the Champions League last season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always hard to make such an important decision in your life, it鈥檚 always difficult, but when the Champions League final ended, I spoke with my agent and told him that I had the feeling that my cycle here had ended,鈥� he said.
Casemiro couldn鈥檛 hold back tears at times.
鈥淲hat I have won here is not going to change, but there in Manchester I haven鈥檛 won anything and I鈥檓 to try to help the club as I did here,鈥� Casemiro said. 鈥淚鈥檓 going with all the motivation in the world.鈥�
Casemiro said his move to United, where he joins former Madrid teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane, was not motivated by money.
鈥淭hose who think that don鈥檛 know me,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f money was the issue, I would have left four or five years ago. This club has always been very good to me. I really like the Premier League and wanted to play there.鈥�