Casemiro Urges Ancelotti: Neymar Must Return for Brazil

Casemiro is already talking like a man with one foot out of Manchester and the other planted firmly on the road to the World Cup – and he wants Neymar on that journey with him.

The Brazilian midfielder, who has made it clear he will leave Manchester United this summer, has thrown his weight behind Neymar’s return to the national team under Carlo Ancelotti, describing the forward as the one player Brazil still can’t replicate.

Casemiro’s message to Ancelotti: “You need Neymar”

Neymar has not played for Brazil since suffering a serious knee injury two-and-a-half years ago, rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee. Minor surgery followed late last year, and another procedure came during the March international break.

For many, that would have been the end of an era. Casemiro disagrees.

Now 34 and back at Santos after leaving Al-Hilal almost 18 months ago, Neymar has stitched together back-to-back goals just as Ancelotti prepares to name his squad. The timing has not gone unnoticed.

Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, Casemiro made his stance plain. His view is that Neymar should be handled differently, used as a decisive weapon rather than a 90‑minute workhorse.

“My decision, yes, but (the) decision you need to (make) first is (tell him), ‘hey, Neymar, you don't play every game,’” Casemiro said, explaining how he’d manage the country’s record goalscorer.

“He plays every game. For me, it's not perfect for him, I think he comes, and the game is not finished, the game is new, new. And (contributing) a special assist, a special goal is (the role) for him.”

Ferdinand cut in: “He could change the game.” Casemiro didn’t hesitate: “Yeah, change the game, and we don't have this player in this moment, we don't have, so, for me, in my opinion (yes), but it's Ancelotti's decision.”

That is the crux of it. Brazil, in Casemiro’s eyes, still lack that one player who can rip open a tight knockout tie with a single touch. Even after the injuries, even after the surgeries, he believes Neymar remains that man.

A bond with Ancelotti that goes beyond tactics

Casemiro’s plea carries extra weight because of his relationship with Ancelotti. The Italian, who brought him back into the Brazil setup last year after a spell out of the picture, is more than just another coach in his career.

“I have good, very good feelings with him,” Casemiro told Ferdinand. “He's my friend, he's my friend. I know what he likes, what he doesn't like, I know everything. I've known Ancelotti for a long time, he's (been) my friend for a long time, so I know sometimes I push here, I don't push here, I know everything about Ancelotti.”

The respect is total. So is the conviction.

“Ancelotti is in the top three in the world. In the last 15 years, he's (been) the best. He's the best, so Ancelotti is not just my manager, he's my friend.”

Pressed on what makes the Italian so “special”, Casemiro pointed to his man-management before anything else.

“For me, the first thing is (that) he talks about what the players like to lose. You know? What the players like. ‘I give you one thing, you give me this’.”

He made it clear that understanding players is only part of the job – “it's impossible to win with just a good manager, you need a good tactic, tactical” – but in his mind, Ancelotti blends both sides of the role as well as anyone.

“You need to know about this; it's impossible to have just one good thing. For winning trophies, you need everything, but for me, the best thing is a very good manager, he understands the players.”

That understanding may now be tested with the Neymar question. Casemiro has laid out the blueprint: protect him, pick your moments, unleash him when the game is “new” and stretched. The decision rests with Ancelotti.

No U-turn at United: “Go out the big door”

While he plots Brazil’s future from afar, Casemiro has already closed the door on his own at Old Trafford.

Out of contract this summer and set to become a free agent, he has repeated that there will be no late twist, no emotional reversal. The choice to leave was made months ago and, in his mind, must stand.

He told ESPN there is “no chance” of staying at United, stressing that he wants to depart with his reputation intact.

“I don't think there's a chance, there's no chance, mostly because of what I said, you know? Go out the big door.

“I think it was four beautiful, wonderful years, and I am eternally grateful not only to the club, but to the fans, but I think I have to leave on good terms, I have to go out on top. I will be an eternal United fan here in England, and I just have to thank all the love from the fans.”

The next step in his club career will be his choice. The next step for Brazil, he believes, should be Ancelotti’s – and it should include Neymar walking back into the World Cup spotlight, not as the old talisman who has to carry everything, but as the game-changer Brazil still can’t replace.