Is there life in Casemiro yet? Much-maligned Man Utd midfielder might not be done after all - and he can even play key attacking role for Erik ten Hag

Back in May, Wembley looked to be the scene of Casemiro’s last stand as a United player. He was left out of the starting line-up for the FA Cup final and was initially named on the substitutes' bench on the teamsheet, only for United to reveal on their own website that he was not in the squad after all.

The club insisted he had a muscle injury and the extent of it only became apparent after arriving at the stadium. There had been no mention of this injury ahead of the game, however, and Ten Hag would reveal months later that he had indeed dropped Casemiro for the final, making no mention of a potential fitness issue.

As United’s players danced on the Wembley turf with the trphy after staging a stunning win over Manchester City, Casemiro, dressed in a suit, cut a sullen figure. This looked like the end, a brutal yet fitting denouement to a season of nightmares.

A move to the Saudi Pro League at the time looked like a logical solution to United's problem of being weighed down by his huge salary (the second-highest at the club) and Casemiro's struggles to cope with the intensity of the Premier League at the age of 32.

But less than three months later, Wembley looked like being the scene of the start of a new beginning. Casemiro was not just in the squad but in the starting line-up for the Community Shield, and he proved to be one of United’s best players.

His work with the ball was what really stood out. Continuing on from the pre-season tour of the United States, Casemiro operated like a No.8 or even a 10 against City and was behind some of United’s most eye-catching moves.

He played an incisive pass to release Amad Diallo in the penalty area after a sublime passage of play which was just spoiled by the winger cutting the ball back to no one rather than shooting. A few minutes later, Casemiro was again involved in a flowing move and picked out Marcus Rashford, who curled wide.

At other moments he resembled a deep-lying playmaker, be it when he was releasing Mason Mount or laying the ball off to Bruno Fernandes before the Portuguese in turn played in Alejandro Garnacho. Casemiro also pulled off one of the crunching tackles that fans loved so much in his first season, swiping the ball from Matheus Nunes, while he also halted Oscar Bobb and Jeremy Doku by staying on his feet.

Casemiro looked deadly concentrated in the penalty shootout, too. He nailed his spot-kick past Ederson, sending his compatriot the wrong way, and otherwise focused on advising Andre Onana where to dive or consoling Jadon Sancho after he spurned his kick. When City lifted the trophy, Casemiro stared intently, looking furious. He clearly felt that United had let the silverware slip from their grasp.

The Community Shield might not be seen as a major honour, but Casemiro badly wanted it. At Real Madrid he took every competition seriously, which is why he lifted no fewer than 18 trophies with them.

It is that will to win which United were looking for when they signed him from Madrid, for a whopping £70m ($89m) and on huge wages. Last season that fee looked like a huge oversight, and one good performance in the Community Shield does not excuse it.

But that same will to win which attracted United to Casemiro in the first place also prevented him from taking Carragher’s advice and calling it quits by heading to Saudi Arabia. Casemiro does not want the shame of Selhurst Park to be people’s defining memory of his time at United.

Casemiro was left exposed in many games last season as the sole defensive midfielder in an unorthodox shape that Erik ten Hag improvised with due to the team’s deep injury problems and the fact that explosive counter-attacks were their best chance of getting at opponents.

Carragher, a thorn in United’s side on more than one occasion last season, defined the Red Devils as “a team who like to press high with a deep block" and said they “defend like a team I’ve never seen before” after their 2-1 defeat at home to Fulham in February. He added: “It’s impossible. They’re trying to do two things at the same time. It’s been the problem for Manchester United all season, the space between the back four and midfield.

Casemiro bore the brunt of this high-risk approach more than anyone else in the United squad, and he often looked ill-equipped to stop opponents’ quick transitions. The Brazilian, who missed around three months with injury and later claimed to have played while not being fully fit, looked extra vulnerable in the formation.

But he looked comfortable against City and much more like the player who thrived in his first season in England, propelling United to finish third in the Premier League and reach two cup finals. Ten Hag's 4-2-4 shape in the Community Shield, which was similar to the formation he used in the FA Cup final, made United a far more cohesive team and Casemiro looked far more at home.

The team that last season conceded an average of 20 shots per game (only relegated Sheffield United conceded more) looked surprisingly solid against City, allowing the English champions just nine attempts, just one of which hit the target (Bernardo Silva's equaliser).

United are unlikely to use the 4-2-4 formation in every game, especially when new striker Joshua Zirkzee is fully integrated or when Rasmus Hojlund returns from injury. But as long as the players work closer together and do not leave Casemiro isolated, there is a strong chance of him repeating his strong display against City throughout the season.

Ten Hag dismissed a suggestion that the new formation helped Casemiro, instead pointing to the Brazilian’s improved fitness levels. "I don’t think it’s about the system but yes, I think since a long time he has had a pre-season so he’s very fit in this moment," said the Dutchman after the Community Shield. "As a team we work very well together, that makes it easier for Case. He’s a great football player, he can bring his skills, he’s important for our team."

Ten Hag was right. As a key player for Madrid and then United as well as a consistent Brazil international, Casemiro very rarely caught a break or had time to get himself in shape. He played six major tournaments between 2015 and 2022 and routinely played the Club World Cup, Champions League final or UEFA Super Cup with Madrid.

The midfielder was expecting to go to this year’s Copa America and had arranged travel to Brazil’s pre-tournament camp, only to be left out of the squad for a major tournament for the first time in a decade. He instead enjoyed an extended summer break, and although the effect of his time off was not visible in United’s first few friendlies, he now appears to be seeing the benefits of having a full pre-season.

United can also reap the rewards of a fit and motivated Casemiro as long as they use him wisely. That means ensuring he gets support and does not have to cover acres of space by himself. It also means being sensible with his workload, rotating the squad for European and domestic cup games so that when the biggest games arrive, he is ready.

Friday's Premier League opener against Fulham will be a further test of Casemiro's revival. If he continues to look assured and United play their cards right, Wembley could just be the start of his redemption.