The day that changed the life of a star at Real Madrid, which is Zidane's weakness

It is curious that one of the games that has marked Casemiro's career was one in which he did not play. It was a derby played at the Santiago Bernabéu, between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Zidane, a newcomer to the White Club bench, played his first game against Atlético with a very offensive game idea, mixing many quality footballers such as Tny Kroos, Luka Modric, Isco or James Rodriguez.

This had paid off in their first matches, but Simeone's men punctured the globe by beating Madrid. "You have to put more legs," said Zidane at a press conference aware that talent was not going to be enough against the best. The good thing for him is that he had the solution at home, and he realized it. Just the following weekend, Casemiro entered to the initial eleven, to give consistency to the midfield. The Brazilian was in charge of supporting the BBC (Bale, Benzemá, Cristiano), untouchable for Zidane during its first months. He not only brought strength, but also tactical balance to a team that was easily broken without him.

That season he no longer left the team. He went from playing 21 minutes in the first nine meetings with Zidane to starting the next 15 in which he was available. Among them, all those from the knockout phase of the Champions League (including the final against the rival named above) and the Clásico at the Camp Nou that Madrid won 1-2. Since then, he has become a pivotal player. 

It should be remembered that Casemiro had to leave on loan and then return and triumph in Madrid. He arrived from Sao Paulo in 2013 in exchange for 6 million euros and the club gave him a year later to Porto, where he began to be a footballer capable of performing perfectly in a big game. Casemiro has become one of the team's benchmarks over the years. He has assumed leadership to such an extent that he is one of those who most directs his teammates on the field. His relationship with Zidane is very close: the Frenchman trusts him blindly and is very aware of the importance he has in the system. 

Casemiro will start Sunday's derby

A new derby is coming up in the Spanish capital, and it will feature the Brazilian from the start. In this way, Caserimo will play his 271st match against Atlético with the white jersey, in which he has scored 29 goals and has given 20 assists. If he plays 13 more, he will surpass Hugo Sánchez and will enter the top-10 of foreign footballers with the most games in the club's history.