Casemiro is one of the most in-form players at Real Madrid at the moment. After an impressive UEFA Super Cup performance against Manchester United and praise from manager Zinedine Zidane to go with it, it seems that the Brazilian midfielder is going nowhere this transfer window.

Casemiro began his career with the youth team at Sao Paulo Futebol Club. In 2010, he was called up to the senior team to replace Hernanes, who transferred to Lazio around the same time that summer. It was while training at the Morumbi in Sao Paulo that he began to turn heads with his aggressive defensive style.

He caught the attention of Spanish giants Real Madrid in January 2013, who had a loan deal worked out for the Brazilian. Casemiro would spend some time in the second division with Real Madrid B before being called up. Real Madrid eventually activated his six million Euro buyout clause, thus making him a first team player. Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso were in good form at the time, so Casemiro found himself as a reserve with limited minutes under Rafa Benitez.

FC Porto would come knocking in July of 2014, so Madrid sent Casemiro out for a season long loan. After his spell in the Portuguese league, Casemiro became a regular first-team player under new manager Zinedine Zidane. As the assistant manager, Zidane pushed for Casemiro’s minutes to increase, and now as head of the team, he could make that a reality.

Since then, Casemiro has had two impressive seasons for Los Blancos, including back-to-back Champions Leagues, and a La Liga title. He is a wall that rarely gets broken down and has earned himself the nickname O Monstro from Brazilians and Real Madrid supporters. Despite backing up players like Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos and Cristiano Ronaldo, Casemiro has continued to make a name for himself as a silent destructor who can be relied upon to provide quality in the middle of the pitch. He is one of the main reasons that Real Madrid has been so successful, especially because of how Madrid has been known to be shaky defensively, if one were to nit-pick the best club in the world’s flaws. If a team controls the midfield, they are more likely to dominate possession and therefore win the game, so while Kroos and Modric are constantly trying to orchestrate the attack, Casemiro makes sure to cover the counter. He is everywhere on the field, and silences other midfielders and attacking players. Paulo Dybala was a ghost in the 2017 Champions League Final, being dispossessed by Casemiro several times.

Not only has the 25-year-old been impressive for Real Madrid, but he has also won his spot in the starting eleven for the Brazilian national team. He controls the center of the field, and contains even the flashiest of players.

Casemiro has grown into a more agile and mobile midfielder that has added more to his arsenal as he has grown into his role. He is one of the best tacklers in the world, great in the air, and his defensive stance enables him to intercept and deflect many passes from opponents. The Brazilian’s passing was noticeably better, finishing with a passing percentage of over 85% in the 2016-17 La Liga season. He has also added a rocket of a right foot to his arsenal and has proven to be a poacher in front of goal for set pieces.

We live in a sports society that is obsessed with triple doubles, hat tricks, and statistics in general. The little things that aren’t usually measured, like defensive positioning and not losing sight of your man are underappreciated. In the final leg of the Spanish Super Cup played at the Bernabeu, Casemiro came on in the final 30 minutes and shut down Lionel Messi. He rarely lost sight of the Argentine, and his defensive positioning was outstanding. When Messi did receive the ball, he didn’t bother to turn because he knew that the six-foot Brazilian was right on his back.

Even though his name isn’t usually the one on the score sheet, players like Casemiro need to be appreciated more for their efforts. The Brazilian has demonstrated what it’s like to be the general of the midfield with his consistent work ethic, and this should be valued and treasured by all supporters.

MSN, a worldwide phenomenon, came to an end on August 3, 2017.

The trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar Jr. is no more, as FC Barcelona accepted roughly a 222 million Euro transfer for Neymar from PSG, demolishing the previous transfer record set by Manchester United for Paul Pogba just a year ago.

Fans are arguing that Neymar can’t reach his full potential in the French Ligue 1 and there’s no question that Spain’s La Liga is more competitive. Yet, a move to Paris may have peaked Neymar’s interests for reasons other than getting paid 30 million Euros a year. The opportunity to play with his Brazilian counterparts in Paris only increases the chances for Neymar and co. to bring home the World Cup in 2018. In 2010, Spain hoisted the World Cup, and in 2014, Germany were the victors.

These two countries feature a majority of their national team players competing at home in domestic competitions. In La Liga, Real Madrid and Barcelona make up most of the national team, while in the Bundesliga, many members of the national team play for Bayern Munchen and Borussia Dortmund. Chemistry is the backbone to success in the sport of football, and it played a huge role in both Spain’s, and Germany’s World Cup wins.

Neymar will be joining Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Lucas Moura in Paris, all candidates to be selected for the national team come next summer. This upcoming season is going to be crucial if Brazil wants to avenge their 7-1 humiliation to Germany in 2014. Chemistry has been a problem for Brazil while Dunga was in charge of Brazil’s national team, but Tite has seemed to unite the Selecao.

Neymar’s transfer may bring that core closer together, thus giving the boys in yellow a chance to bring home the trophy of all trophies in Russia. In order to truly understand Neymar’s decision to leave the great club of Barcelona, we must understand the legacy that Neymar is trying to leave.

His accomplishments on the international stage pale in comparison to that of his domestic success, and in order for him to truly be seen as the complete package, he wants to achieve success on both fronts. Such a fate can be streamlined in a tenure with PSG, as he will have the opportunity to get practice with his future national team compatriots on a regular basis. Expect big things from the Brazilians in Paris.