Leny Yoro revealed the Manchester United players wanted Casemiro to stay at the club before he announced his intention to leave at the end of the season.

The midfielder joined from Real Madrid at the start of the 2022-23 campaign and has since made 154 appearances in all competitions.

But he announced earlier this year that this season will be his last at Old Trafford, as he will be leaving when his contract is up in the summer.

Having come under scrutiny at times with United, Casemiro is impressing during his swansong, netting his seventh goal of the season in their win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

His seven Premier League goals this season mark his best-ever return in a single campaign in Europe's big-five leagues, surpassing his six for Madrid in 2020-21.

Six of his goals have come from non-penalty set-pieces, the most by a United player in a single top-flight campaign since Wayne Rooney in 2011-12 (seven).

Reports suggest there is unlikely to be a U-turn by the Brazilian, and Yoro said the players wanted the club to keep Casemiro.

"Everyone wanted him to stay; he's a player [who is] really important for us," Yoro said.

"Even in the dressing room, every day, he has the experience that no one else has in the team.

"He won everything, so this helped us a lot in the games and even outside the pitch."

Casemiro's current contract does have the option of a one-year extension, though it was mutually agreed with the club that it would not be triggered.

And Michael Carrick hinted the decision will not be reversed.

"I think it's when something's decided, and in some ways the fact that it was decided makes things a little bit easier, and everyone understands the situation really," Carrick said.

"I think the impact he's had has been terrific, certainly since I've been here and working with him and his influence within the team and big moments and goals."