Casemiro, Raphael Varane, and Lisandro Martinez have received appreciation from Bruno Fernandes for their influence in the Manchester United locker room.
With a combined total of more than £110 million, Casemiro and Martinez joined United in the summer. Erik ten Hag insisted on bringing in seasoned captains for a team that had been without guidance for so long. Both players joined seasoned defender Varane at Old Trafford, where the World Cup champion and international for France had transferred from Real Madrid the year before.
The seasoned trio has assumed charge of the locker room alongside acting captain Fernandes and guided the Reds to a successful season. On Sunday, Ten Hag’s team has a chance to take home their first trophy in the Carabao Cup and continue competing in all four of the tournaments that were open to them at the beginning of the season.
The fourth-year Manchester player Fernandes commended his colleagues for exhibiting essential leadership qualities.
“In an interview with Rio Ferdinand for BT Sport’s Between the Lines, Fernandes stated that Casemiro is a player who can find the ball while also covering a lot of ground in the back. “Since you know he’ll cover you, he gives you the confidence to go higher, take more chances, and make runs into the box.
“Even if he doesn’t speak English well, he can communicate with people in a football-related manner and assist everyone while also adding goals and assists by being in the appropriate places. He has a great mentality. He has been a great asset to us and has strengthened our team.
“More than that, he benefited anybody who plays in that position because it inspires you to exert a little bit more effort, and having Casemiro, who has won numerous significant titles with Real Madrid, makes you realize there’s still a long way to go.
“You can see Licha [Martinez] that he has passion and desire. Although Rapha [Varane] is a little bit more composed, she still has a loud voice in the changing room. He is someone you can trust, yet he also performs admirably when required to speak up and play his part. Because we have more leaders in the group and more people who aren’t scared to speak up when necessary because sometimes it can be perceived in the wrong manner, they play a significant role in how we have been progressing.
“Because of the nature of football, you may occasionally need to yell at your teammates in order to motivate them to play at their highest level.