Casemiro Urges Neymar's Inclusion in Brazil Squad

Casemiro has one eye on the door at Manchester United and the other firmly fixed on Brazil’s World Cup campaign – and in his mind, that future has to include Neymar.

The 34-year-old midfielder, who has already confirmed he will leave Old Trafford this summer, is using his final months in Europe to lobby for a familiar ally. Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, Casemiro urged national team boss Carlo Ancelotti to find room for Neymar, even if it means reshaping the forward’s role.

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 leg. The country’s record goalscorer then needed minor surgery on the same knee late last year and another procedure during the March international break.

For a long time, it looked like the door had quietly closed on his international career.

Then he went home.

Neymar left Al-Hilal almost 18 months ago and returned to Santos, the club that first launched him into the global spotlight. Back in familiar surroundings, he has pieced his game together again, finding rhythm, confidence and, crucially, goals. He heads into Ancelotti’s squad announcement with strikes in back-to-back matches, just as the debate over his international future intensifies.

Casemiro’s view is blunt: Brazil cannot afford to ignore a player who can still bend a game to his will.

“My decision, yes, but (the) decision you need to (make) first is (tell him), ‘hey, Neymar, you don't play every game,’” Casemiro told Ferdinand, stressing that the forward’s role may need to change. In his eyes, Neymar should no longer be the man asked to carry 90 minutes on his shoulders.

“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.”

Impact player. Game-breaker. Not workhorse.

Ferdinand suggested Neymar “could change the game,” and Casemiro immediately backed that line: “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 last point matters. Casemiro is not just talking about any coach.

Ancelotti the “friend” and architect

Carlo Ancelotti is the man who brought Casemiro back into the Brazil set-up last year after a long spell out, mirroring Neymar’s own absence. Their relationship goes far beyond the usual manager-player dynamic forged at Real Madrid.

“I have good, very good feelings with him,” Casemiro said. “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.”

This is not casual praise. Casemiro ranks the Italian at the very top of the modern game.

“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 Ancelotti “special”, Casemiro pointed to the Italian’s instinctive feel for the dressing room.

“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'.”

The Brazilian was quick to add that charisma alone does not win trophies. “But it's impossible to win with just a good manager, you need a good tactic, tactical. 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 now faces one of its most delicate tests: whether to gamble on Neymar’s talent after years of physical setbacks, or to move on from a generation that has fallen short on the biggest stage.

Casemiro has made his stance clear. Ancelotti will have the final say.

No U-turn at Old Trafford

While he campaigns for Neymar’s return, Casemiro has shut down any hope of his own. There will be no twist in the tale at Manchester United.

The midfielder, who joined from Real Madrid in 2022, has already informed the club of his decision and repeated in an interview with ESPN that he will not reconsider.

“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,” he explained.

“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.”

As a free agent this summer, Casemiro will have the rare luxury of choosing his next manager and project, weighing style, ambition and trust in the same way he now weighs Neymar’s value to Brazil.

His own future can wait. For now, his message is aimed squarely at a “special” coach in charge of a country still searching for its next great World Cup moment: Brazil need a match-winner, and in Casemiro’s eyes, they already know his name.