Real Madrid training began this Friday a quarter of an hour late, and the wait fueled the impression that when the curtains were raised, Casemiro would no longer be there.

But the rondos were formed, and in that of foreigners, the Brazilian was still forming, keeping track of the touches: "Um, dois, três, quatro, five, six, sete...".

As usual.

The metronome of training.

His transfer to Manchester United was not announced until this Friday at 9:14 p.m.

Casemiro's last day at Valdebebas began like all those of his more than eight years at the club, and ended, then, like a manual last day, a farewell to the family shortly before finalizing the details of his new and voluminous contract in the Premier and fly to England this Saturday.

It was Friday, the eve of the game, this Saturday in Vigo against Celta (22:00, DAZN).

The Brazilian, baptized Casemito by his teammates, entered the sports city with a certain urgency before ten in the morning, when none of his teammates had yet arrived.

Like every day of his in Valdebebas.

He always the first.

Until the end.

Already in the sports city, differences began to appear, which Ancelotti had already detected the day before: “I listen and read.

Sometimes you don't pay much attention to what happens.

There were rumors of this situation, but he ignored it.

Yesterday [on Thursday] I realized that this could happen, ”he said in his first appearance since the rumors of United's very serious interest in the Brazilian emerged.

Ancelotti says that on Thursday he understood that it was a real possibility, and that Friday morning he found the footballer in his office: “I have only listened”.

The night before, the Italian had planned one last attempt to retain the footballer, who was pondering the English temptation: a four-year contract with the option of a fifth, and a salary of around 10 million euros net per year, very above the five that he receives in Madrid since last year he extended his contract until 2025. Some sources from the white club even point out that United's offer is 14 million net.

Madrid will receive 70 million pounds (82.4 million euros), 60 fixed (70.6) and 10 (11.8) variables.

Ancelotti had considered trying to convince the Brazilian to stay this Friday morning, but gave up when he heard it.

The option of seducing the 30-year-old footballer with a salary increase that would deactivate the attractiveness of the English proposal did not come to fruition.

The Italian didn't even try: "Listening to his will, his desire... There is no way to go back," he said.

“He wants to try a new challenge, a new opportunity.

I think the club understands this.

For what Casemiro has done at this club, the person that he is, we have to respect this wish that he has.”

express negotiation

Everything seemed inevitable, much chewed in the frantic hours before, since the first reports of United's interest on Tuesday.

The trip to Madrid of the English club's director of football, John Murtough, added solidity.

The manager does not usually travel without prior field work.

The player's agent, Óscar Ribot, a former Madrid employee, also acted as an intermediary between the clubs, in fluid communication with José Ángel Sánchez, the Whites' executive general manager.

So the operation was already very outlined on Thursday afternoon, both with the footballer and between the institutions.

When Casemiro entered Valdebebas this Friday, no one thought there would be a way back, despite the fact that the contracts had not yet been signed.

After speaking with the coaching staff, the Brazilian wanted to participate for the last time in the customs of his team.

He was the first in the room for the pre-match video session.

As usual.

And then he went out with his still companions to the grass, and joked with Militão, and laughed a lot, and kept track of the touches of the rondo, the sound landscape of the routine.

Later, without the cameras or the eyes of the press, he participated a little more in the session and stepped aside.

But he did not leave there, but he stayed in the grass until it was all over.

Only with the work done, he began the round of farewells to the colleagues with whom he has won so much, and others, the younger ones, whom he has pushed and cared for so much.

Without speeches or boasts, almost one by one.

A couple of hours later, the club published the squad list, and Casemiro no longer appeared there, as Ancelotti had announced in his appearance.

All eyes now turn to the 22-year-old Frenchman Aurélien Tchouameni, recently arrived to succeed the Brazilian, as Ancelotti recalled: “He has been signed for this position, and at the moment he is one of the best midfielders on the market”.

The Italian had calculated that he would have room to move from one to another.

French lacks cooking: “He has to learn.

He has to get used to it, position himself better,” he said.

"He is too young.

He has to improve, but he is ready to play for Real Madrid”.

Tchouameni made his debut as a starter last Sunday in Almería, where he didn't show all that the coach thinks he can give: “Emotionally, the match weighed a bit on [him and Camavinga].

Today they have not played as they usually do, it is quite normal, they are very young and the shirt is heavy, ”he said.

That is why Ancelotti has a more successful plan B, which he pointed to this Friday: "Toni Kroos can play in this position, like the second season I was here, and we won 22 games in a row," he recalled.

"We don't have players with the characteristics of Casemiro, but we have others with other characteristics," added the Italian coach.

While the Brazilian was saying goodbye to his teammates in Valdebebas after laughing with them again, in the Manchester United sports city, his coach, Erik Ten Hag, appeared serious and tense before the press in the midst of a formidable storm of discontent.

They asked him about Casemiro, of course: "Until the player signs I can't say anything," he replied, and continued to navigate the crisis that grew with last weekend's 4-0 against Brentford.

“In football, before talking about the plan, about the philosophy, you have to do the basics, and that starts with the right attitude.

Fighting spirit is needed on the field, and I didn't see it, from the first minute”, lamented the coach, who on Monday, before the match against Liverpool at Old Trafford, will see the protest demonstrations of fans called.

To that place from which Cristiano Ronaldo intends to flee, Casemiro leaves with the memory of his happy routines in Valdebebas, and his full showcase at the Bernabéu.

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