Jose Mourinho has already told Erik ten Hag why Casemiro is the ideal Manchester United signing

Man United have contacted Real Madrid about the prospect of bringing Casemiro to Old Trafford before the transfer window closes.

Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho once told Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro that he would become the "best central midfielder in the world" amid the Reds' interest in his signature.

As reported by the Manchester Evening News , United have contacted Madrid about the possibility of signing the Brazilian midfielder before the transfer window closes in just over a fortnight's time. The Reds' move for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot has broken down and they are desperate to add to their midfield options.

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong remains an active target for United, although it is now more than three months since they first registered their interest. The club is not yet sure if Casemiro would be open to the idea of a move, but have contacted Madrid to try and gauge an understanding.

The Brazilian remains a key part of manager Carlo Ancelotti's plans in the Spanish capital and helped them win the UEFA Super Cup as recently as last week. He also played a key role in helping them win the Champions League and La Liga title last term.

He is widely considered to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the business and has gone from strength to strength since joining Madrid on a permanent deal from Sao Paulo back in 2013. He had spent the season prior on loan with Madrid's youth team, Madrid Castilla, before being snapped up for just €6million.

He was awarded his Madrid debut by Mourinho, who departed a few months later by mutual consent. Although they did not spend much time working with each other, the Brazilian caught Mourinho's eye, resulting in some glowing praise.

"[He told me] 'I know you, you are good, and you are going to be the best central midfielder in the world'," Casemiro told Cope, speaking back in 2018. "He gave me this confidence, I left the dressing room believing that I was Cristiano Ronaldo.

"With the energy that he gave me, I was left believing that he was the best in the world. The confidence and energy that he gave me was incredible."

Casemiro, who spent the 2014/15 campaign on loan at Portuguese side Porto, has become a serial winner since joining Madrid, helping them win 18 major trophies, including five Champions League crowns. He has a winning mentality and would be an immediate upgrade on United's current midfield options.

He has made 336 appearances for the club, scoring 31 goals and grabbing 29 assists. His latest assist came in the Super Cup win over Eintracht Frankfurt last Wednesday night, as Madrid recorded a 2-0 win.