INEOS nightmare looming: One Michael Carrick call could cost Man United £18m next season

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro reportedly has a little-known clause buried deep within his contract that could have major implications.

The Brazilian is entering the final five months of his current deal at Old Trafford, although United retain the option to extend his stay by a further 12 months.

However, with Casemiro among the club’s highest earners, there is growing belief that United will hesitate before activating that extension.

Despite his undeniable influence since arriving in Manchester, the hierarchy are expected to consider prolonging his stay only if he agrees to a significant wage reduction.

According to The Athletic, Casemiro can trigger his extra year at United by starting a certain number of games this season.

That figure is believed to be 35 starts, a milestone that would see his contract run until the summer of 2027.

Unfortunately for the 33-year-old, meeting this number would be nearly impossible as United are already out of both domestic competitions.

They are also without European football, limiting United to just 40 games this campaign.

Casemiro has started 18 games so far, meaning he would need to be named in the XI for 17 more fixtures to activate the clause.

Intriguingly, the Red Devils have exactly 17 matches left to play this season.

Michael Carrick is the new interim head coach at United.

The former England international will ultimately decide United’s strongest line-up, and his selections could directly shape Casemiro’s future at the club.

Carrick is expected to deploy a familiar 4-2-3-1 system, a set-up that could see Casemiro start regularly as the holding midfielder.

Casemiro’s current wages are below below £300,000 but will automatically go back to his salary of £350,000 per week if the club qualifies for the UEFA Champions League.

In real terms, that scenario could leave United paying close to £18 million to the veteran next season alone.

Adding another layer of risk, Casemiro’s aggressive style means yellow cards are never far away, making a suspension due to accumulated bookings a very real possibility.

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .