Casemiro takes over the captaincy of Brazil again and leads by example to face the Asian strong opponents

2025-10-10 03:22

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro will resume his role as captain of the Brazil national team in two friendlies against South Korea and Japan.

The experienced veteran said he hopes to set an example for his teammates through his actions and attitude and lead the team to prepare for next year's World Cup.

Casemiro, who recently returned to Manchester United's starting lineup after his suspension, helped the team beat Sunderland 2-1. He has now traveled to Asia with the national team to begin a new phase of preparations under the leadership of new manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Talking about wearing the captain's armband again, Casemiro said at the press conference: "I think there are many ways to lead, and everyone has their own style. I like to show young players through action how to work hard and how to do their best on the field."

This is Casemiro's 17th appearance as Brazil captain. With Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos absent, he will once again shoulder the leadership responsibility. He last wore the captain's armband against Uruguay in October 2023.

Casemiro stressed that the matches against South Korea and Japan will provide Brazil with valuable warm-up opportunities: "With all due respect, they are the top teams in Asia. These types of matches help us test the team's condition, understand the rhythm, and prepare us for facing different types of opponents. The World Cup is full of unknowns, and you never know who your next opponent will be."

Brazil will face South Korea in Seoul on Friday before travelling to Tokyo to face Japan. Casemiro's Manchester United teammate Mateus Cunha has also been included in the squad and is expected to feature.