It may be odd to argue, amid what was a wretched campaign for Manchester United as a whole, although 2024/25 was in many ways a season of redemption in some quarters, with Harry Maguire re-establishing himself as a central figure under the new Ruben Amorim regime.
Thrust into an unorthodox number nine berth during United’s Europa League run, in particular, the England international delivered arguably the greatest Old Trafford moment in recent years, following his last-gasp winner against Lyon.
Once written off under Erik ten Hag, having been stripped of the captaincy amid talk over a move to West Ham United, the 32-year-old, to his credit, fought his way back from the brink, having notably been hailed as “perfect” for the 3-4-3 system by Amorim.
Fittingly too, that heroic winner against the Ligue 1 side had been supplied by another man on a mission, in the form of Casemiro, with the Brazilian having also delivered the assist for Kobbie Mainoo just minutes earlier – alongside winning the prior spot-kick.
Central to that comeback, the 33-year-old is in many ways the comeback kid, having shaken off the disappointment of being left out of the starting lineup for last season’s FA Cup final, to then edging out Manuel Ugarte to get the nod for the Europa League showpiece 12 months later.
That resurgence has been a joy to behold, although the fact remains that his £70m addition was perhaps a costly, long-term mistake. Could something similar soon be repeated?
Latest on Man Utd's transfer search
Speaking of fixing prior mistakes, the Red Devils appear to be searching for a suitable successor to Andre Onana between the sticks, with the 29-year-old facing an uncertain future at the club after just two years in Manchester.
Linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, the £47.2m signing made a catalogue of errors again in 2024/25 – including three leading to a goal in the Premier League – with it no surprise that Amorim is reportedly seeking a replacement.
As noted by journalist Rudy Galetti, United are said to have “renewed interest” in Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, with the club holding “internal talks” over whether to make a move for the German.
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Writing in his attached piece for TEAMtalk, Galetti notes that the 33-year-old has emerged as a ‘leading target’ for the Red Devils, amid their search to replace Onana this summer.
The veteran goalkeeper – who is said to have also been considered by Chelsea – is facing his own uncertainty back in Catalonia, amid the potential arrival of Espanyol’s Joan Garcia.
Why Ter Stegen could be another Casemiro for Man Utd
It is heartwarming that a man who won the lot at Real Madrid – namely five Champions Leagues – appears to simply love life at Manchester United, with Casemiro memorably collapsing to the floor in delight following the wild celebrations after Maguire’s Lyon winner.
The one-time Porto man has looked back to his first season best in recent months, having notably described 2022/23 as the “best” individual campaign of his career, with Erik ten Hag having hailed him as the “cement” in the side at the time.
Frustratingly, however, such performances were not maintained in the following year, with Casemiro described as looking like he’s playing “in Soccer Aid” by pundit Jamie Redknapp, having failed to justify his reported £350k-per-week salary.
Games (starts)
28 (24)
25 (24)
24 (18)
Goals
4
1
1
Assists
3
2
0
Big chances created
7
2
3
Key passes*
1.0
0.6
0.9
Pass accuracy*
79%
83%
80%
Tackles & interceptions*
4.4
4.0
4.1
Balls recovered*
N/A
5.3
4.3
Dribbled past*
1.6
2.2
1.2
Total duels won*
55%
52%
64%
Despite his recent renaissance, the decision to plump for the ageing talent remains a costly one then, with the same potentially set to occur with regard to Ter Stegen – a player who takes home £102k-per-week in Barcelona.
Like his former Madrid rival, the 44-cap Germany international could bring a wealth of experience to United, undoubtedly, having racked up 422 appearances for the club to date, while winning a plethora of major honours.
Much like Casemiro too, Ter Stegen has repeatedly delivered the goods at the elite level over a consistent period, having previously been described as “extraordinary” and “among the three best keepers in the world” by former boss Xavi. Former Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak also stated that it is “is crazy the way he can make some saves”.
The problem is, however, that at 33, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach man would hardly be a long-term solution, not least considering his unfortunate injury woes of late.
Indeed, last season, the long-serving Barca star made just nine appearances in all competitions, having only recently made his return from a lengthy stint on the sidelines due to a tendon issue.
That spell out of action – which saw Ter Stegen miss 51 games for club and country – follows a previous period of absence in 2023/24, in which he missed a further 19 games with a back injury.
For a club like United who have endured frequent injury setbacks in recent times, that must surely have alarm bells ringing, with Amorim unable to afford further disruption in such a key position.
Yes, like Casemiro, the 6 foot 2 ace – who ranked in the top 7% in LaLiga in 2023/24 for save percentage – can be a quality asset on his day, but those days may prove to be few and far between as his career reaches its climax.
As United found with Casemiro – and Raphael Varane before him – Spain’s elite clubs are rather canny at affloading ageing stars at the right time. United simply can’t prove another victim of that this summer.
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