A Liverpool legend has defended his previous statement that Manchester United midfielder Carlos Casemiro is not world class.
Graeme Souness was critical of Casemiro's switch from Real Madrid to the Old Trafford after the Premier League club splashed out a reported £60million for a 30-year-old.
The Brazil international, however, has become one of Erik ten Hag's biggest performers this season but Souness stands by his claim that the United star is not what he describes as 'world class'.
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"Do I think Casemiro is world class? My definition of that is a player who gets in every team in the world, and I'm not sure he does," Souness wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
"Real Madrid, obviously, decided that there is someone better in that position and chose to sell him. He is very good at everything, without necessarily being great. He knows where to be at the right time defensively. He can pass the ball. He is chipping in with the odd goal - and so a midfielder should - and is just a very good, all-round footballer.
"I said to Jamie Redknapp recently when we were working on TV, when I come back in the next life, I want to be a centre-half with a midfield in front of me who are really good at pressing. Then, you spend most matches with a cigar in your mouth. You would like to have Casemiro in front of you in that regard.
"Has he been better than I expected? I don't think so. I knew what he would bring. But I stand by my point, no-one buys a season-ticket because Casemiro is playing.
"It's called the engine-room for a reason - you're often doing the dirty stuff. On reflection, he is exactly what Man United needed more than any of their other signings."
