Former Real Madrid midfielder Claude Makelele claims Casemiro “reminds me of myself.”
Makelele joined Madrid in 2003 and won a Champions League and La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu, but the Frenchman was shipped out to Chelsea three years later and Los Blancos went on to win no major trophies in the three years after his departure.
Nonetheless, the Swansea City assistant believes they have found a fitting heir in Casemiro.
“Casemiro’s playing very well,” he told Marca.
“Before the [2016] Champions League Final in Milan, I spoke to him in the dressing room.
“He knows the position he plays in very well and makes it look easy, with quality and hard work.
“He reminds me of myself. Some people thought I just used to run, but technically you have to know where and how to play.
“Casemiro’s very smart and always well-positioned. He can score goals too because he can go forward. I couldn’t with the players we had up top!
“It seems that now, Real Madrid appreciate the dirty work of a midfielder more than my time there.
“For Casemiro, the most important thing is that his teammates recognise the importance of his work. That’s his trophy.”
