Manchester United have been marred early this season with the mistakes of Casemiro. The Brazilian made two mistakes against Liverpool, both of which contributed to Liverpool's goals.

Amid the criticism surrounding Casemiro, Man United are biting their nails for missing out PSG star Fabian Ruiz before signing the former Real Madrid midfielder.

Fabian Ruiz, the Spanish midfielder now shining at Paris Saint-Germain, has seen his star rise significantly, earning comparisons to French legend Zinedine Zidane.

Back in 2022, Manchester United had the chance to sign Ruiz as they searched for midfield reinforcements during Erik ten Hag's first summer in charge. However, instead of securing Ruiz, the Red Devils opted for Casemiro in a £70 million deal from Real Madrid.

Ruiz was one of the names considered when United looked to strengthen their midfield after failing to land Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona. Despite the interest, neither Ruiz nor De Jong joined, with United eventually turning to Casemiro. The Brazilian had a solid debut season, contributing to United’s fourth-place Premier League finish and helping secure the Carabao Cup. But his form has since dipped, and he was recently substituted at half-time during United’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool due to costly errors. Amid ongoing transfer speculation, Casemiro rejected a move to Galatasaray to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Ruiz’s performances have reached new heights. The 28-year-old played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 success and recently scored twice in a 4-1 victory against Switzerland in the Nations League, even while Spain played with ten men for most of the match. This standout display has seen him compared to Zidane, widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in football history.

Reflecting on the comparisons, Ruiz said, “It’s a big deal to compare myself to Zidane. I always try to help the team by giving my best and repay the coach’s trust. It's a huge pride to represent my country. It's the greatest thing.”

Ruiz was once again linked with United this summer, but the club chose to sign his PSG teammate Manuel Ugarte instead. As the Spaniard continues to excel for both club and country, his journey serves as a reminder of what might have been for Manchester United. Had the club chosen differently, they could have had a midfielder now being compared to one of the sport’s all-time greats.