“Five crucial mistakes in Manchester United’s contracts and the urgency of Casemiro’s extension.”

Manchester United, one of the most iconic clubs in world football, is currently facing uncertainty regarding its contract renewal strategy. With Casemiro’s impressive form, calls have emerged for the veteran midfielder to be tied to a new contract that extends his stay beyond this season. However, this could be a poor decision that reflects the club’s tendency to make monumental mistakes in signings and renewals.

The lessons from the past are clear and painful. Instead of securing the continuity of a world-class player like Casemiro, United has a history of disastrous decisions when it comes to renewing contracts. Notable examples include the poorly calculated contracts of players like David De Gea and Marcus Rashford. Below, we explore five emblematic cases that highlight this chronic problem.

**Anthony Martial**: During his last summer at the helm of the club, José Mourinho wanted to offload Martial, who was not fitting into his plans. However, the Frenchman had influential friends. Joel Glazer, one of the owners, was a fan of the player, and the financial decision-makers decided they knew better than the coach himself. Instead of doing what was necessary, the club activated a one-year option and began negotiations for a new contract. The result? A four-and-a-half-year deal that saw Martial earn a million pounds every four weeks, while his on-field contribution became increasingly scarce.

**Marcos Rojo**: Mourinho was also enthusiastic about Rojo’s renewal, but this quickly turned into a mistake. The player, who was already injured when signing the contract in 2018, made only 13 appearances in the following two years. Eventually, he was loaned to Estudiantes and later sold to Boca Juniors for a pittance, if they even recouped more than the cost of his transfer.

**Phil Jones**: The fear of Manchester United letting contracts expire led them to renew with Jones, even when he was a financial burden. With a history of injuries, Jones never managed to play more than 30 matches in an entire season. After signing a new contract in February 2019, he only appeared in 13 league games while earning £100,000 a week. The illusion that he could be one of the best in the club’s history, as suggested by Sir Alex Ferguson, was nothing more than a dream.

**Eric Bailly**: The cycle of mistakes continued with Bailly’s renewal in April 2021, a player who has always been inconsistent and injury-prone. Even after four seasons in which he made only 37 appearances, United decided to give him a new three-year contract, with an option for an additional year. The outcome was predictable: Bailly made only eight more league appearances before being shipped off to Fenerbahce.

**Nani**: Last but not least, we have the case of Nani. The winger secured a five-year renewal under David Moyes, who quickly strayed from his promises. Nani made only twelve league appearances after the renewal and was loaned to Sporting, while United continued to cover his salary.

These examples illustrate an alarming trend at Manchester United: the inability to make sensible contractual decisions. With Casemiro shining, the pressure to extend his contract is understandable, but will the club learn from its past mistakes or repeat history? Uncertainty is in the air, and with that, the future of Manchester United remains an unknown.