Cristiano Ronaldo is "one of the best players in history", so says Casemiro, who is thrilled to link up with his former Real Madrid team-mate at Manchester United.
Casemiro is set to join United in a deal reportedly worth £60million (€70m).
The 30-year-old leaves Madrid after nine-and-a-half years at the club. He has won the Champions League five times and collected three LaLiga titles among 18 major trophies in total.
Casemiro played alongside Ronaldo until 2018, when the latter left Madrid for Juventus, having become Los Blancos' record goalscorer with 450 to his name in all competitions.
Ronaldo returned to United last year and scored 18 Premier League goals, though the Red Devils recorded their lowest points tally in the competition's history (58) as they finished a disappointing sixth.
Uncertainty surrounds Ronaldo's future, with the 37-year-old having been keen to leave Old Trafford in search of Champions League football. While manager Erik ten Hag has insisted the forward is not for sale, reports last week suggested United might even agree to release Ronaldo on a free transfer.
Casemiro, however, is hopeful Ronaldo will stay put, as the Brazil international relishes the chance for a reunion.
"I haven't talked to Ronaldo yet but he knows what I think about him and the history he has made," Casemiro said in a news conference in Madrid on Monday.
"I know he will continue to be unique and I can't wait to start playing with him again.
"I hope he decides to stay because he is one of the best players in history, I am really excited to start playing with him and my new team-mates."
While Ronaldo is seemingly unhappy with playing in the Europa League instead of the Champions League, that is not an issue for Casemiro, who is targeting domestic success with United.
He added: "We won't play in the Champions League this year but it's one of the biggest teams in the world. Knowing the level of this team, we will have a great Europa League season."
Asked what he wants to learn at United, and what he wants to achieve, Casemiro said: "What I want is to transmit the way I feel about the club, my respect and everything that I did [at Madrid], I want to do there too.
"I want to show my fighting spirit, my capacity to work hard, my professional attitude and want to work hard every day to show how serious I am. I want to win the league there.
"I'm going through one of the best moments of my career, I feel really fit and mentally I feel great. It's a great moment to take this decision."
United play rivals Liverpool on Monday, but head into the fixture on the back of two defeats to open their Premier League campaign, having gone down 2-1 to Brighton and Hove Albion and 4-0 to Brentford.
Casemiro wishes he was available to play in that match, but as he prepares to settle into a new league, he also has to consider the upcoming World Cup, with the midfielder a key player for Brazil.
"It's a very important year for me," he said. "You always feel privileged to play for Real Madrid but this change is my big challenge right now.
"I spoke to my wife and she said that I look like an 18-year-old kid who is super excited about his new project, and I really do feel so excited about playing in the Premier League. If I could, I would play today against Liverpool.
"I'm really excited, it's a club with a great history and I will have to work hard to make a name for myself with United. I'm ready to work hard in order to face this new challenge.
"I'll make sure to help my new team-mates have a great season. We'll see what happens in the World Cup."
Casemiro is set to join United in a deal reportedly worth £60million (€70m).
The 30-year-old leaves Madrid after nine-and-a-half years at the club. He has won the Champions League five times and collected three LaLiga titles among 18 major trophies in total.
Casemiro played alongside Ronaldo until 2018, when the latter left Madrid for Juventus, having become Los Blancos' record goalscorer with 450 to his name in all competitions.
Ronaldo returned to United last year and scored 18 Premier League goals, though the Red Devils recorded their lowest points tally in the competition's history (58) as they finished a disappointing sixth.
Uncertainty surrounds Ronaldo's future, with the 37-year-old having been keen to leave Old Trafford in search of Champions League football. While manager Erik ten Hag has insisted the forward is not for sale, reports last week suggested United might even agree to release Ronaldo on a free transfer.
Casemiro, however, is hopeful Ronaldo will stay put, as the Brazil international relishes the chance for a reunion.
"I haven't talked to Ronaldo yet but he knows what I think about him and the history he has made," Casemiro said in a news conference in Madrid on Monday.
"I know he will continue to be unique and I can't wait to start playing with him again.
"I hope he decides to stay because he is one of the best players in history, I am really excited to start playing with him and my new team-mates."
While Ronaldo is seemingly unhappy with playing in the Europa League instead of the Champions League, that is not an issue for Casemiro, who is targeting domestic success with United.
He added: "We won't play in the Champions League this year but it's one of the biggest teams in the world. Knowing the level of this team, we will have a great Europa League season."
Asked what he wants to learn at United, and what he wants to achieve, Casemiro said: "What I want is to transmit the way I feel about the club, my respect and everything that I did [at Madrid], I want to do there too.
"I want to show my fighting spirit, my capacity to work hard, my professional attitude and want to work hard every day to show how serious I am. I want to win the league there.
"I'm going through one of the best moments of my career, I feel really fit and mentally I feel great. It's a great moment to take this decision."
United play rivals Liverpool on Monday, but head into the fixture on the back of two defeats to open their Premier League campaign, having gone down 2-1 to Brighton and Hove Albion and 4-0 to Brentford.
Casemiro wishes he was available to play in that match, but as he prepares to settle into a new league, he also has to consider the upcoming World Cup, with the midfielder a key player for Brazil.
"It's a very important year for me," he said. "You always feel privileged to play for Real Madrid but this change is my big challenge right now.
"I spoke to my wife and she said that I look like an 18-year-old kid who is super excited about his new project, and I really do feel so excited about playing in the Premier League. If I could, I would play today against Liverpool.
"I'm really excited, it's a club with a great history and I will have to work hard to make a name for myself with United. I'm ready to work hard in order to face this new challenge.
"I'll make sure to help my new team-mates have a great season. We'll see what happens in the World Cup."
