Brazil confirm Casemiro sustained injury in draw with Venezuela

Brazil caretaker manager Fernando Diniz has confirmed that Manchester United midfielder Casemiro picked up an ankle injury during their 1-1 draw with Venezuela on Thursday.

The Selecao have taken seven points from the nine available to them so far in 2026 World Cup qualifying, with their perfect start coming to an end this week.

Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes scored his first goal for Brazil to break the deadlock, but a sublime late strike from Eduard Bello secured a point for Venezuela.

Diniz had used two of his five substitutions already heading into the closing stages of the game and so decided to make a triple change late on with his side still ahead, with Casemiro voluntarily withdrawing from the action to be replaced by Liverpool transfer target Andre.

Speaking to reporters, Diniz explained why exactly Casemiro was hauled off.

"As there was a stop (in play), I decided to make the three substitutions. We had a lot of control when they came on. Casemiro asked to come off due to a blow to his ankle," he said.

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Brazil return to action on Tuesday with a trip to Uruguay, who are now managed by former Argentina and Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa.

Should his ankle problem subside, Casemiro is expected to return to United action next Saturday when they travel to Sheffield United in the Premier League. They then host Kobenhavn in the Champions League and welcome rivals Manchester City to Old Traffford.

United's start to the 2023/24 season has been disrupted by various injury issues and they could do without adding Casemiro's name to their list of absentees.

Football director John Murtough confirmed this week that United are looking into the reasons for this injury pile-up so early in the campaign.

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