Jamie Carragher has admitted his famous assessment of Casemiro was "too harsh and premature" after the Manchester United midfielder accused him of being disrespectful.
The former Liverpool defender originally made the comments in April 2024 after United were heavily beaten by Crystal Palace.
Working as a pundit for Sky Sports, Carragher said: "I think Casemiro should know tonight that he should only have another three games left at the top level.
"The next two league games and the cup final, then he should be thinking, I need to go to the MLS or Saudi.
"Leave the football before the football leaves you. The football has left him."
The comments resurfaced this week after Casemiro addressed them during an interview on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
The 34-year-old insisted he respected Carragher's opinion but said the remarks were "disrespectful".
Jamie Carragher has admitted his famous assessment of Casemiro was "too harsh and premature" after the Manchester United midfielder accused him of being disrespectful
|PA
Carragher has now responded in his latest column for The Telegraph, where he acknowledged that his verdict looks different in light of Casemiro's revival.
He wrote: "My 2024 remarks were too harsh and premature."
Carragher added that his comments "were not personal" and were made with "a feeling of reluctance and sadness" about one of the outstanding midfielders of the modern era.
Casemiro was dire as Manchester United lost to Crystal Palace in May 2024 | PALATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Casemiro has been sensational for Man Utd this season and will leave Old Trafford on a high | PAExplaining his thinking, he said: "In 2024, Casemiro was unfit, lacked the physicality and athleticism to cope with quicker, sharper opponents, and was exposed when used in a deeper role."
Carragher compared the Brazilian's display that evening to "a world-class boxer well past his prime who was determined to keep getting into the ring, but was taking so many punches it made for uncomfortable viewing."
Despite softening his stance, Carragher maintained that Casemiro has not consistently reached the extraordinary standards he set during his glittering spell with Real Madrid.
He also argued that United allowing the midfielder to leave on a free transfer this summer supports his wider point.
"There is a reason why the United hierarchy are allowing him to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season," Carragher wrote.
Casemiro has made nearly 160 appearances for Man Utd during his time at Old Trafford
| REUTERSCasemiro has nevertheless enjoyed an impressive resurgence during the 2025-26 campaign, scoring nine Premier League goals and helping United secure qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
Since arriving from Real Madrid in 2022, the Brazilian has made 159 appearances and scored 26 goals for the club.
He is expected to depart after United's final two league fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Brighton.
The Red Devils have already wrapped up Champions League football and are on course to finish in the top three for the first time since 2023, back when Erik ten Hag ruled the roost.