"Leave the football before the football leaves you," said Jamie Carragher almost a year ago. Carragher made that comment when he reacted to Casemiro's performance at Selhurst Park. "He had to bring Casemiro off at half-time," he added. "Casemiro should be thinking he needs to go to the MLS or Saudi Arabia. We are watching one of the greats of modern times decline." Carragher's quip about 'leaving football' was memorable. Manchester United fans don't often agree with Liverpool legends, but they'd had enough of a regressing Casemiro at that stage. Although it was a struggle to find a supporter who wanted to keep Casemiro last summer and United wanted to sell him, no appropriate offer arrived and he stayed beyond the window. Then Casemiro faced the embarrassment of being hooked at half-time against Liverpool in September when the new season was under way. Selhurst Park felt like it would be Casemiro's nadir, but he was replaced by the inexperienced Toby Collyer in that game, which felt worse. The consensus was that Casemiro was finished at the top level. Ruud van Nistelrooy took over on an interim basis, though, and he started the Brazilian in each of his games in charge. Casemiro's improvement was sparked by Van Nistelrooy placing his faith in him and he's continued to show improved form since Ruben Amorim's arrival, especially in the Europa League. It's not a surprise that the Europa League suits Casemiro better in the winter of his career. It is slower than the Premier League and the 33-year-old fares better against weaker opposition. Casemiro is set to play an important role in United's attempt to win the Europa League, and Amorim was interesting when he was asked about the midfielder at Friday's press conference. "Everything can happen," said Amorim. "Casemiro is the best example. He wasn’t playing and then you see the last games he’s having a part, he’s performing quite well, he’s playing all the time, I like to change my mind, if they change my mind I like that, I want to put the best players in my team." Casemiro won Amorim's trust in the last few months, something nobody predicted would happen. There has been life in the old dog and he now seems likely to stay for another season. Despite Casemiro's recent improved form, it's unlikely he will receive an offer in the summer window, so all signs point toward him seeing out his contract, which expires in June 2026. Imagine suggesting in the final months of last season that Casemiro would see out his contract? Fans were desperate to see him offloaded. You'd have been thrown into a straitjacket. Amorim's quote about Casemiro suggests he still has a squad role to play, which aligns with the recent evidence on the pitch. Casemiro should not be starting many games for United next season, but he can fill in and remains a well-respected, experienced leader in the dressing room. Casemiro began May 2024 by being grilled on Sky Sports by Carragher, however, he will enter May 2025 with the trust of a new manager and an improved relationship with United fans. Everyone thought Casemiro would be playing somewhere else, but he's still fighting.