Inter Miami introduced Brazilian midfielder Casemiro as their latest signing at Nu Stadium, marking a significant addition to the Major League Soccer (MLS) club’s roster. The 34-year-old former Manchester United player expressed enthusiasm about joining the team and emphasized his desire to continue developing and winning alongside his new teammates.
Casemiro’s transfer to Inter Miami has come under league scrutiny due to MLS rules regarding discovery rights. The LA Galaxy held Casemiro’s discovery rights, a mechanism that typically prevents one MLS club from negotiating directly with a player under another club’s rights without permission. Despite reaching a settlement with the Galaxy to facilitate the signing, MLS announced last week that it is investigating whether Inter Miami engaged in tampering during the negotiation process.
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas responded to the allegations, insisting that the club complied fully with league regulations. Mas acknowledged the complexities and ambiguities surrounding discovery rights but maintained that no conversations or negotiations with Casemiro or his representatives took place before consulting both MLS officials and the Galaxy. He also expressed hope for a revision of the discovery rights rule, suggesting that the current system does not reflect the reality faced by MLS clubs competing internationally for top talent.
“The intent of this rule was always to not have multiple MLS teams negotiating against each other for one player,” Mas said. “But as I’m sure we all know... we’re actually competing in a global marketplace.”
Casemiro officially joined Inter Miami after leaving Manchester United upon the expiration of his contract. He arrived at United in 2022 from Real Madrid, where he enjoyed a highly decorated career that included three Spanish league titles and five UEFA Champions League victories. At Manchester United, he contributed to the squad winning the FA Cup and English League Cup. The midfielder noted he had multiple options in continuing his career but chose Inter Miami due to the quality of the roster.
His arrival comes on the heels of high-profile signings, including Lionel Messi, whose presence has already helped Inter Miami capture the Leagues Cup, the MLS Supporters’ Shield, and an MLS championship. Casemiro made his Inter Miami debut in a 1-0 win against Montreal, contributing significantly with 76 touches.
Though Messi has not played since the World Cup, as part of a rest protocol for tournament participants, Casemiro expressed admiration for the Argentine star. “It is a dream come true playing in the same team,” he said. “I want to help him continue winning... He is the god of football.”
Mas further underlined the club’s strategy of assembling a globally recognized team by bringing in experienced international stars who complement Messi, such as Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, and Rodrigo De Paul. Casemiro is viewed as a continuation of this policy to build a competitive and internationally prominent soccer club.