Bruno Fernandes faces competition to become the next Man Utd captain as his team-mate looks to replace Harry Maguire

CASEMIRO is poised to compete with Bruno Fernandes for the position of Manchester United’s next captain.

Boss Erik ten Hag has given some thought to who should captain the Red Devils next season, with Harry Maguire likely to step down.

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Portugal’s Fernandes is the favorite for the armband but fellow midfielder Casemiro also sees himself as a leader.

The 31-year-old Brazilian has accumulated a wealth of experience in almost a decade at Real Madrid and admits he enjoys being one of the most important players.

He said: “I like having this role. Be a leader, be caring, be like a father and take care of things.

“I like being a role model, being the first to arrive. I like playing this role.

“The captain’s armband is nothing more than a symbol, but players have a responsibility to speak to the referee and the players.

“I like being that role model player.”

Casemiro also revealed that the chance to leave Madrid and join United last summer came at exactly the right time for him.

He agreed to the £60m move after helping the Spanish giants to the Champions League title just three months earlier.

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He told Brazilian sports magazine Placar: “It was a chance to leave a big club at the top, at an age where I can still have that willpower.”

“If it was in two or three years, I wouldn’t leave Real Madrid to go to another big club. I wouldn’t have the ambition to change leagues and take advantage of another giant club.”

But Casemiro loves the challenge of the Premier League and said: “That’s exactly what I was thinking.

“The main thing is that there is no easy game here – the first place plays last and is not sure if he will win.”