"He’s as close to Roy Keane" - Paul Scholes sends message to Erik ten Hag with bold claims about Manchester United star 

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has compared Casemiro with his former teammate Roy Keane, in a glittering review of the Brazilian. The former United midfielder said so after the side's 2-2 draw at Barcelona in the UEFA Europa League knockout playoffs first leg on Thursday (February 16).

Casemiro starred for the Red Devils in the enthraling stalemate. He made one key pass, had one attempt on target and made two tackles and an interception. The midfielder's arrival from Real Madrid for £70 million last summer has been a catalyst in Erik ten Hag's side's superb season.

Scholes lavished praise on the Brazilian, saying that he's the closest midfield talent he has seen to Red Devils icon Keane. He touched on how different United are when Casemiro is not in the team, alluding to his ongoing league suspension (via the Mirror):

"You can see the big difference when he’s not in the team. You think of the Arsenal (3-2 loss) game when he wasn’t there. I always talk about having a coach on the football pitch, and for Ten Hag, he’s that man."

Casemiro is renowned as one of Europe's finest defensive midfielders. However, Scholes views him in a different light, comparing the Brazilian with Keane:

"People say he’s a holding midfield player - I don’t see that. I think he does everything. He’s as close to Roy Keane as I have seen. As a Man United midfield player, you should be involved with everything. You should be able to go forward; you should be able to play a pass and help defend. I think he’s been fantastic."

Casemiro has featured 31 times across competitions this season, scoring four goals and providing five assists. At Madrid, the Brazilian played in a midfield three alongside playmakers Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. However, at Manchester United, his attacking contributions have increased. He is showcasing not just his defensive attributes but how much of a threat he is going forward.

Scholes' comparison of Casemiro with Keane is high praise for the midfielder. The former Red Devils captain made 473 appearances for the club, scoring 51 goals and providing 36 assists. He's regarded as one of the Premier League greats and lifted the title seven times and the UEFA Champions League once.

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Keane praises Manchester United's appointment of Ten Hag

Keane waxed lyrical about the Manchester United boss.

Manchester United have been transformed under Ten Hag this season. They were coming off a disappointing 2021-22 campaign, where they finished sixth in the league and trophyless for the fifth straight season.

However, Ten Hag's side are now competing in four competitions and face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final later this month. The Red Devils are the European side with the most wins (25) this season. Keane has been impressed by the Dutch coach's management, telling ITV Sport:

"He's been a good fit. ... There was a decent squad there, and he's improved it. His management style, he's obviously Dutch; he's got a bit of arrogance; he's got a lot of confidence; they've got a lot of momentum."

Manchester United will host Leicester City at Old Trafford on Sunday (February 19). They sit third in the league, trailing leaders Manchester City by five points.