Casemiro reveals why he gave his FA Cup winners' medal to struggling Man Utd team-mate who 'needs love'

Malacia endured a frustrating season on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery in the summer of 2023. Despite not featuring in a single match in the previous campaign, he remained a supportive presence at Wembley, watching as his team-mates secured a 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Manchester City, thanks to goals from Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.

However, Malacia was reluctant to join the celebrations given his absence throughout the season. But Casemiro encouraged him to be around during the trophy presentation and even gave him the FA Cup medal, ensuring the Dutch full-back felt included in the team’s achievement.

"I didn't know Malacia had talked about it, but it's true, I gave him my medal," Casemiro told reporters. "He hadn't played a single game that season, and he didn't want to climb the steps. There was no medal for him, so I gave him mine. He's part of the team and we're counting on him. Even though he hasn't played this season, we love him, we need him and he also needs love."

United will next take on Everton on Sunday, followed by a challenging midweek clash against Arsenal.