Former France international and Premier League legend Claude Makelele has picked someone he believes is a better defensive midfielder than he was during his playing days.
In an interview with Goal, Makele declared that Manchester United midfielder Casemiro surpasses even him as a defensive midfielder.
The Makelele legacy
Renowned for his excellence on the field, Makelele’s influence was so profound that the defensive midfield position came to be named after him. With Champions League triumphs at Real Madrid and Premier League victories at Chelsea, Makelele left an indelible mark before retiring at PSG in 2011.
In the interview, Makelele was prompted to respond only when a superior defensive midfielder was mentioned. Interestingly, he remained silent when the names of esteemed former players like Roma’s Daniele De Rossi, Juve’s Edgar Davids, AC Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso, Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano, and Manchester United legend Roy Keane were brought up.
However, when the names of active footballers such as Declan Rice, Joshua Kimmich, and Casemiro were mentioned, Makelele broke his silence only when the Brazilian’s name was brought up.
When questioned about his surprising choice, the former Chelsea midfielder was prompted to provide reasons for favoring the Brazilian.
“Because he’s young—because it’s a new generation and reminds me of my generation.”, he said, as per daily post
Casemiro’s illustrious career
Throughout his tenure at Real Madrid, Casemiro formed part of a formidable midfield alongside stars like Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, amassing 336 appearances and scoring 31 goals for Los Blancos.
Having spent nine illustrious years at the Bernabeu, the 32-year-old Brazilian clinched numerous titles, including the coveted UEFA Champions League five times, before making a £60 million move to Old Trafford in 2022.
