Saudi Arabian Pro League giants Al-Ittihad are said to be interested in signing Casemiro during the summer transfer window. Al-Ittihad want the Brazilian midfielder to replace N’Golo Kante, who is expected to leave in the summer.
N’Golo Kante is open to the Al-Ittihad exit.
Chelsea legend Kante has signed a three-year contract with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has signed a massive $27.8 million-per-season deal with the club, making him one of the highest-paid players in the world.
Kante had a great season in his debut season with Al-Ittihad, scoring two goals and providing five assists in 30 appearances in the Saudi Pro League. His performances not only led Didier Deschamps to include him in his final squad for the 2024 European Championships (EURO 2024), but also made him a key player in the French midfield. Les Bleus did not make it to the end in Germany, but Kante’s performances were notable.
According to talkSPORT, Premier League club West Ham United are interested in signing him this summer, while the former Leicester City midfielder is also open to a move.
Al Ittihad interested in Manchester United ace Casemiro
The Saudi side are not keen on selling Kante this summer, but they are preparing a backup plan. According to Spanish outlet Fichajes.net, Al Ittihad see Manchester United defensive midfielder Casemiro as the ideal replacement for Kante and will try to sign him in the coming weeks.
Al-Ittihad are said to admire the 31-year-old’s leadership qualities and winning mentality. They also believe he can still play a lot of football. There is a belief that the signing of Casemiro will help Al-Ittihad become one of the most dominant teams in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Manchester United need to raise funds to strengthen their core team, so they may be willing to approve Casemiro’s move to Saudi Arabia if Al-Ittihad receives a sufficiently lucrative offer.
It will be difficult for Al Ittihad to persuade Casemiro to trade Manchester to Riyadh, but the presence of Karim Benzema, who played alongside the midfielder for eight seasons at Real Madrid, could help in negotiations.
Casemiro joined Manchester United from Real Madrid in a shock move in 2022. He has since made 83 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 12 goals. His contract with Manchester expires in June 2026.
