Casemiro will become Manchester United’s fourth signing of the summer transfer window after the club announced the agreement of a deal with Real Madrid.
Final formalities, including a medical, still need to be completed. But an agreement over personal terms for a long-term contract has been reached in principle.
The Brazilian midfield destroyer should bring steel to an otherwise lacklustre United midfield, as well as bundles of elite level experience after winning five Champions League titles with Real.
Casemiro has become synonymous with the number 14 shirt during his time in Madrid, wearing it ever since properly establishing himself with Los Blancos in 2015 following a loan at Porto.
It would have been an obvious choice at United, especially with Jesse Lingard recently vacating it after six years. But the Red Devils have already re-assigned it to Christian Eriksen.
Another suitable United jersey that was made available but has already gone to another new signing if the six shirt that Paul Pogba used to wear. It now belongs to centre-back Lisandro Martinez, but Casemiro occupied it for Porto during his year at the Estadio Dragao.
Five is another a shirt number associated with Casemiro, having worn it for Brazil since 2015. Yet that one is also out of the question at Old Trafford because it is Harry Maguire’s.
Numbers that are available to Casemiro at United include 13, 15, 18, 21, 24 and 30.
The 13 shirt could be saved for a new goalkeeper, with the club in the market for back-up and cover for David de Gea. But 15, last worn for United by Andreas Pereira, could be a strong option for Casemiro, with obvious connections to his favoured Brazil digit. It has a strong aura at Old Trafford after being worn with distinction by former captain Nemanja Vidic from 2006 until 2014.
Casemiro had been known to wear 18 for Real Madrid Castilla, which was made famous at United by Paul Scholes and vacated this summer when Bruno Fernandes switch to eight.
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