Casemiro joins Inter Miami

Casemiro joins Inter Miami

Former Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has joined Inter Miami, the reigning MLS Cup champions, on a deal through the 2027 Sprint Season, with the option to extend his stay until the summer of 2029. The 34-year-old Brazilian international will provide a welcome boost to Miami's midfield, which has struggled to find its identity since Sergio Busquets retired after last season's Cup triumph.

Casemiro's defensive capabilities will be particularly welcome at Nu Stadium, with the Herons' defense having proved a regular liability both this and last season. The Brazilian midfielder arrives at Miami after representing Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and joins a project that continues to strengthen its squad with the ambition of becoming one of the leading contenders for the MLS Cup.

In a statement, Casemiro said,

"What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is winning and continuing to grow. The project the Club presented to me, along with the effort everyone made to bring me here, means a lot to me.

"I'm incredibly grateful, and I can't wait to get started so I can repay that trust—not only during the 90 minutes on matchday, but every day in training as well. All I can say is thank you, and I'll give everything I have to return the affection and confidence the Club has shown me."

Fellow ex-Red Devils and Los Blancos midfielder and current Miami co-owner David Beckham said he was "very proud to welcome Casemiro and his family to Inter Miami. He is a person and a player that I have admired for a long time.

"He is a winner who has achieved so much in the game and after such an incredible career with Real Madrid and Manchester United I'm delighted that he's decided to make Miami his next home."

Miami's managing owner, Jorge Mas, said he believed "Casemiro's arrival reflects the vision and ambition that define Inter Miami. We never settle.

"We're always looking to grow, improve, and raise our standards every season. We've built a global club with the vision of becoming not only the best club in the United States, but also a benchmark globally.

"Casemiro embodies everything this club stands for: leadership, a winning mentality, and an extraordinary track record at the highest level of the game.

"After achieving virtually everything there is to achieve in fútbol, his decision to join Inter Miami shows that he shares our ambition and our commitment to the highest standards as we continue building for the future. We're thrilled to welcome him to the Inter Miami family."

Tampering Investigation

However, Casemiro's move to Inter Miami is being investigated by the MLS for tampering. The American soccer league has a system in place, called discovery rights, in which a player joining the MLS from another league can only negotiate with a club that has the player's rights. If a club signs a player without those discovery rights, it is required to make a payment and officially acquire their rights.

According to The Athletic, the LA Galaxy had Casemiro's discovery rights, but Inter Miami signed him without first acquiring those rights. The league has since opened an investigation over tampering charges, and a final amount will be determined after the investigation is finalized.

An MLS statement confirmed: "Major League Soccer is reviewing a tampering allegation against Inter Miami CF.

"The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete.

"While Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy have reached a settlement for the discovery priority to sign Casemiro, the terms will be released upon conclusion of the tampering investigation."

Casemiro will join Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul in the Herons' midfield as they continue to rebound after a rough start to the season under now-former head coach Javier Mascherano. Miami returns to action following the MLS's World Cup break on Wednesday in Florida against the Chicago Fire, who recently signed another former Barcelona star, Robert Lewandowski.