Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui admits it was a "sad day" when he learnt that Casemiro would be leaving the club when his contract expires.

The midfielder's four year stint at Old Trafford will come to an end when the season concludes, despite the club having an option to extend his contract by a further 12 months. United have opted against, leaving Casemiro free to seek a new club.

Casemiro moved to Manchester from Real Madrid in 2022 and was initially a huge success. He endured a dip the following year, but has returned to form and is again a regular as the Red Devils storm up the table in recent weeks.

The 34-year-old arrived in England off the back of a trophy-laden period with Real Madrid, where he won numerous Champions League titles, and that winning experience was seen as a huge plus for a United side who had gone years without claiming a trophy.

As a result Mazraoui was sad to see Casemiro's exit confirmed and insists the club will have to fill a huge void when it comes to getting the job done at the highest level.

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He said: "I think the announcement, when I saw it, was like... it was a sad day. He brings experience, like crazy. He knows how it is to win. He knows how it is, also, the road to win, because he has done it, he has lived it. So, yeah, we’re going to miss him a lot in the team, outside of the pitch, inside the pitch, of course."

The 34-year-old scored for the sixth time in the Premier League this season when he found the net at Newcastle recently - surpassing his best total in Manchester. He's just one goal shy of his best total in all competitions but his exit will further motivate the club to land a new midfielder - which is top of their summer wish list.

It is unclear whether Michael Carrick will still be in charge of United by that point but he has been hugely complimentary of the Brazilian's contribution.

“Yeah, I've got to say, Case has been fantastic since I came in, really, on and off the pitch,” he said recently. Experience is a great thing if you use it in the right way. And again, I think over time, being a senior player here is almost the responsibility of the example and helping the young players, helping the rest of the boys and passing on your experiences in a positive way.

“He's been top since I came in, in so many ways, and he's been a pleasure to work with, and I look forward to continuing with him for a few months yet.”

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