Casemiro said the qualities of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric made it easy to star in Real Madrid s midfield ahead of his move to Manchester United, as he backed Los Blancos to replace him from within.
The Brazil international is joining United in a deal reportedly worth an initial £60million (€70m), having won an incredible 18 trophies during a nine-year spell with Madrid.
Casemiro lifted the Champions League on five occasions during his time in the Spanish capital, and produced a masterful performance as Carlo Ancelotti s team clinched their 14th European crown against Liverpool in May.
Modric, Kroos and Casemiro have been key throughout one of the most successful spells in Madrid s history, starting together in four Champions League finals (in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022), and the 30-year-old admits he will miss the duo.
All the titles that you win, all the training sessions, the games you play, they make you happy, just realising you are a Real Madrid player, Casemiro said at a news conference on Monday.
This era, winning five Champions League titles, is a once in a lifetime experience and very special to me, something I ll never forget.
Speaking about Kroos and Modric, they re my great friends, and apart from on the pitch I also think about them as two fantastic people and the great friends they ve been to me.
It s very easy to play alongside them, I don t have much work to do, I will give them all the credit for all the work they have done. Of course, I will miss them a lot.
It was difficult to talk to them, like it was in my conversation with the president. Toni sent me a message at 4am, asking me if all the rumours were true.
I m really loyal to all of my team-mates, not just these two team-mates, but I have to be sincere with myself. If my time here is over, I have to take a step forward. I m going to a great club, the biggest in the UK.
I will always be a fan, celebrate Real Madrid s goals and titles, which they will continue to win, no doubt about it. Real Madrid players are the best in the world and it s the best club in the world – it will always be like that for me.
With Kroos absent through illness, Madrid fielded a new-look midfield as they made it two wins from two outings in LaLiga by thrashing Celta Vigo 4-1 on Saturday, with Eduardo Camavinga and recent arrival Aurelien Tchouameni joining Modric in the starting line-up.
And Casemiro believes the presence of the two young French talents means Madrid may not need to replace him, adding: Real Madrid is a club that always signs the best players in the world.
Aurelien could also do the job, he s the kind of player that Madrid can rely on for many years to come. Toni and Modric will play at this high level but he can be a great asset as well.
Camavinga already showed us how important he can be as well. Tchouameni is also a player that is very important, in the French national team as well.
Real Madrid find themselves in a great place right now, they have great players and will continue to win important titles, that s what this club is about.
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden)
