Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has opened up on the comparison between Casemiro and Thomas Partey comparisons.
The Ghana international is enjoying an amazing season with Arsenal, who are battling for the English Premier League title.
Partey scored his first goal of the season early this month in the north London derby, an absolute stunner in Arsenal's 3-1 win over Tottenham.
Casemiro, on the other hand, made his first league start on October 10 against Everton, and has since started the last two games, scoring an injury-time equalizer for Manchester United in the weekend's 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
Reacting to the comparison, the former England international said, “How do you prove yourself with cameos of minimal minutes here and there but also, why should he have to prove himself?” Ferdinand told Vibe with Five.
“You’re not coming into Man City. You’re not coming to Bayern Munich. You’re coming into a team that needs to improve. You’re bringing in someone for £70million, probably £100m overall package minimum, who won the Champions League a couple of months ago and saying, ‘prove yourself to get in this team.’
“It’s not the Man Utd of old. It’s Europa League Man Utd. He isn’t 18 years old. If Casemiro comes through, the door has to be opened. Welcome him in and play because we know what you’re bringing.”
He was then pressed on a comparison with Partey and said: “Partey is a really good player. He’s been really good. He’s not the right player to play holding midfielder for Man Utd. We’re talking about a player with many rungs up, many rungs.
“It’s like saying before we had Fred and McTominay in the CDM position, would you not have taken Partey? Well, yes, I would have, but what does that prove? All I’m saying is we’re talking about Casemiro against Partey, and it’s not a competition.”