On January 17th, Beijing time, in the 21st round of the Premier League, Manchester United hosted Southampton at Old Trafford. Despite an own goal by Ugarte in the first half, Manchester United staged a remarkable comeback in the dying moments of the game, securing a 3-1 victory thanks to a hat-trick by young attacker Diawara. This performance also highlights Real Madrid's foresight. Real Madrid's Sharp Vision! President Florentino Decisively Lets Him Go: 32-Year-Old Discard Sinks, Value Drops from 80 Million to 12 Million.
The 22-year-old Diawara has become a key player for Manchester United. This season, he has played 30 games for the Red Devils, starting 19 times, scoring 9 goals and providing 7 assists, making him the team's top scorer and second in assists, with captain Bruno Fernandes contributing 11 assists. No player can stay young forever, but there will always be young players. The talented young player from Ivory Coast, Diawara, represents both the present and future of Manchester United.
While Diawara is in his prime, the 10 years older Casemiro has become a marginal player at Manchester United, unable to secure playing time. In the match against Southampton, Casemiro missed out on his third consecutive appearance, while the 21-year-old midfielder Collier made his second consecutive substitute appearance. Since Amorim took over as manager of Manchester United, Casemiro has only played in 6 out of 14 matches, starting 4 times. Amorim is reluctant to use Casemiro, and the Brazilian midfielder is now available for sale.
In the summer of 2022, Manchester United paid a transfer fee of 70.7 million euros to sign Casemiro. After initially performing well for a season, his form declined, with reduced mobility, increased mistakes, and less focus, gradually losing the support of Manchester United fans. The 23-year-old Uruguayan defensive midfielder Ugarte has now become the mainstay of Manchester United's midfield. It was quite wise for Real Madrid to sell Casemiro at the time, even though he was still a key player for the team. Real Madrid acted decisively when Manchester United offered a high price, happily letting him go. Casemiro's peak value was 80 million euros, but it has now dropped by a significant 68 million.
Just like when Real Madrid sold Cristiano Ronaldo, they took advantage of his age and peak performance, selling him to Juventus for a transfer fee of 117 million euros. After leaving Real Madrid, both Ronaldo and Casemiro experienced a decline in form and value. When their values were high, they were transferred, allowing Real Madrid to maximize its benefits.
After Ronaldo's departure, Real Madrid won another two Champions League titles, with Modric and Benzema becoming Ballon d'Or winners. Following Casemiro's departure, young players like Tchouameni and Camavinga stepped up, helping Real Madrid win the Champions League. Real Madrid remains a powerhouse, with a constant flow of superstars. President Florentino possesses the ability and boldness to ensure that Real Madrid always emerges as the winner.