Chris Sutton has admitted that he was wrong about one Man Utd player after he claimed in the summer that they were a “panic signing”.

The player in question is Casemiro, who joined Man Utd in the summer from Real Madrid for around £60m.

The Brazil international was identified as a target after the Red Devils failed to tempt FC Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong into a move to Old Trafford.

Man Utd were questioned in the summer for paying such a significant fee for a 30-year-old, but Casemiro has lived up to his price tag this term as he has been sensational in recent months.

He has arguably been one of the signings of the season in the Premier League as he has been key to the club’s recent success under Erik ten Hag.

United beat rivals Man City 2-1 over the weekend and this has fuelled talk that they could win the Premier League title this season.

Sutton feels that Casemiro “has been brilliant” and he has lauded Ten Hag for making United “superbly organised”.

“Just think about the mess he took over at the start of the season,” Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Had Erik ten Hag signed Wout Weghorst on loan at the start of the season, Manchester United fans would have been up in arms. They’d have said: ‘What is he thinking about? Let’s get rid of him.’

“The fact he has done that and nobody is batting an eyelid means everyone is thinking he has got the team superbly organised.

“I thought Casemiro was a panic signing at the time. I will hold my hands up – he has been brilliant. Raphael Varane is an eight out of 10 every week, he is sensational. The idea of Luke Shaw as a centre-half doesn’t work, but he has a clear plan.

“The other thing is there is a calmness about Manchester United on and off the pitch. They are a club moving in the right direction, and a lot of that is because Cristiano Ronaldo’s gone.

“Ten Hag has seen off Ronaldo and I honestly think that is so big for Manchester United – because if he was still there, there would still be that cloud and stories coming out about unhappiness in the dressing room. He’s away and they are a team.”

Speaking after United’s win over Man City, Ten Hag suggested that Casemiro is “raising the limits” for the club.

“I am happy they did! But you see also at the World Cup he is a magnificent player,” Ten Hag said post-match.

“My analysis before the season was we needed that six position and he is fulfilling that position. In pre-season, we had a lot of discussions but you need the right player and we definitely have the right player.

“I am really happy for Manchester United, for this team to have him because he is really raising the limits for Manchester United.”

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The article Pundit forced into sharp U-turn after claiming Man Utd star was ‘panic’ buy – ‘I’ll hold my hands up’ appeared first on Football365.com.