Real Madrid legend Casemiro shed light on his exit from the club during an appearance on El ... [+]
Real Madrid legend Casemiro shed light on his exit from the La Liga giants during an appearance on El Chiringuito, and revealed that its manager Carlo Ancelotti cried and didn't want him to leave.
The Brazilian was surprisingly sold to Manchester United not long after winning a fifth Champions League crown alongside the Italian in 2022.
During an appearance on Spanish television Thursday night, he reminisced about waving goodbye to his former club of eight years.
"I had won everything. It's not that I wasn't going to keep pushing, but I wanted new things. They didn't let me leave so easily, but I wanted to learn a new language, play in another league. United behaved very well from day one," Casemiro explained.
"I decided to leave a little after winning the Champions League. I already saw that my time at Madrid was over. I was at a good age to leave, I wanted to continue growing. The decision was not easy at all, people loved me a lot."
Casemiro revealed that he only doubted his decision to swap the Spanish capital for rainy northwestern England once.
"It was a Friday and everything was done. I had to train but I didn't, the only thing missing was my signature.
"I went to talk to Ancelotti and he already knew I was leaving. I entered his office, he turned around and was crying. Carlo told me that he didn't want me to leave, that he loved me a lot..."
Whilst he felt the love that almost changed his mind, Casemiro "had already given my word to United and that is more important than anything".
Watching this week's Champions League quarterfinal second leg, Casemiro "suffered a lot as a Madridista" while Los Blancos battled through a 4-4 aggregate score and extra time to eliminate United's crosstown rivals Manchester City on penalties.
"Of course Madrid passed but I suffered for Madrid. I already knew City has very good players and an incredible coach, who knows what he wants to play. Madrid defended, defended and defended. I am very happy for my former colleagues."
Casemiro said that Madrid's DNA is "difficult to explain".
"It's a team that transforms in the Champions League. The DNA is winning. Yes, [they ask]: 'You only won La Liga, why haven't you won the Champions League?' It's like that. The demand doesn't exhaust you, you always have to push. That's what it's like to play for Madrid, that pressure every day."
