Casemiro has been a pillar of Real Madrid’s starting line-up for many years, but off the pitch he certainly doesn’t seem as confident and fearless as he does on the pitch. When José Mourinho told him that he would make his debut for Los Blancos, he was initially afraid of what he had done.
Carlos Henrique Casemiro is the soul and heart of Real Madrid’s midfield. He was at all five Champions League titles in recent years, even scored a beautiful goal from distance in the final against Juventus in 2016/2017. On the field, he jumps head first into every fight and gives a confident impression, but off the field he is not so fearless.
He will never forget his debut in the White Ballet uniform. Coming from Sao Paulo, Brazil, he first started in Castilla. But it didn’t take long before he got a notch higher. Nervousness was rising.
A call from Mourinho
“One day Alberto Toril (the B team coach at the time) called me and said, ‘Case, the first team needs players and you’re going to train with them. ‘I got used to the pace and trained very well,’ Casemiro recalled his early days.
“I remember Mourinho was standing away with Karanka and they were watching me. ‘Look, this one is very good,’ Karanka tells Mourinho. ‘Yeah, yeah, I already know him, it’s Casemiro. He played enough in Sao Paulo,’ answers Mourinho. He was saying it out loud on purpose so I could hear it.” Casemiro tells his story.
The Brazilian made his first start for Real Madrid on April 20, 2013 at the Santiago Bernabéu against Real Betis. But he didn’t know that on the day of the match. “I was nominated for a match but I didn’t know what to do. Fortunately, Kaká helped me and told me to go with him to the hotel.” recalls Casemiro.
What did I do?
The squad included such stars as Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas, Kaká, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso or Sergio Ramos. And among them came the quiet and shy 20-year-old Casemiro.
“I thought I would get 5 minutes or not play at all. But after breakfast, Mourinho said to me: ‘Case, to me.’ I thought to myself, I haven’t done anything that he might want from me…”
No criticism was waiting for Casemiro, quite the opposite. He learned unexpected, but more than positive, news.
“I came into the room and Mourinho said to me: ‘Case, I know you. I know you played a lot of games for Sao Paulo.’ I saw the board and on it myself in the starting line-up. José pointed to the board and told me I was in the basics. Me basically?’ responded the Brazilian modestly.
“Yes, you are an excellent player, take it easy. Fight for every ball like your life,” added Mourinho to Casemiro.
A key player
The defensive midfielder has followed José Mourinho’s advice throughout his career. After a loan spell at Porto, he established himself as one of Real Madrid’s biggest stars and was an important asset to Zinedine Zidane’s hat-trick of Champions League titles in 2016-2018.
It was Casemiro who balanced the defense and provided the full-backs when they went on the attack. He was the one who untied the legs of Kroos and Modrić so that they would have the strength to go on the offensive and not have to think so much about the defense, since they had the “bulldog from Sao José” behind them.
But Casemiro also managed to score several important goals, he is also a key player for the Brazilian national team. The tough midfielder sets an example both on and off the pitch, where he doesn’t let a single fight go.
He takes care of the inclusion of youngsters in the A team, because he himself knows how difficult it is to come from Castilla full of nervousness. It is no exaggeration to say that Casemiro is the captain without a belt and thanks to him, Real experienced one of the best decades in history.
Casemiro’s important role has recently been confirmed by, for example, Fede Valverde and Antonio Blanco. Both agreed that the Brazilian was a key teammate and role model for them who helped them acclimatize in the A team.
And when he left Real Madrid for Manchester United in the summer of 2021, management, players and fans alike paid him great tribute for his services in the white shirt. And even though at first he thought he had done something and was called to the mat, he ended up becoming a Real Madrid legend.
Source: Real Madrid, Brand
