Inter Miami signs Casemiro, MLS investigates tampering allegations
Casemiro joins Inter Miami
Inter Miami has announced the signing of Brazil midfielder Casemiro, who previously played for Manchester United. The 34-year-old has agreed to a deal that extends until the conclusion of the 2027 MLS season, with an option for an extension through June 2029.
Casemiro expressed his motivation, stating, “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.” He added, “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.”
The midfielder joined Manchester United in August 2022 and spent four years at Old Trafford. During his time with United, he scored in the League Cup final victory in 2023 and reached two FA Cup finals, winning the competition in 2024. He was also part of the United squad that reached the Europa League final in May 2025. Casemiro made 160 appearances for United, contributing 26 goals and 14 assists, and won one EFL Cup and one FA Cup.
Casemiro announced in January that he would leave Old Trafford at the end of the 2026-27 season after a mutual decision not to renew his contract. Before his move to United in 2022, he won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid. He also represented Brazil as they reached the last 16 at this summer’s World Cup.
At Inter Miami, Casemiro is expected to reunite with former Real Madrid and Manchester United teammate Sergio Reguilon, as well as Argentina’s World Cup finalists Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul. Inter Miami co-owner Sir David Beckham commented on the signing, saying, “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.”
MLS investigation into tampering allegations
Following the announcement of Casemiro’s signing, Major League Soccer (MLS) stated it is investigating allegations of tampering against Inter Miami. The league released a statement indicating it is “reviewing a tampering allegation” against the club and is “gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete.”
The investigation focuses on Casemiro’s discovery rights, an MLS regulation that grants a specific club the first option to sign a player if they wish to join the league. Clubs are permitted to have up to five players on their discovery list at any given time, with the ability to add or remove players.
Los Angeles Galaxy held the discovery rights for Casemiro. However, Inter Miami stated in their announcement that they had acquired these rights from the Galaxy. The MLS confirmed that Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy had reached a settlement for the discovery priority to sign Casemiro, but the terms of this settlement will be disclosed upon the conclusion of the tampering investigation.
This is not the first instance of Inter Miami being scrutinised over transfer activities. In 2021, the club faced a fine after violating MLS rules concerning the signing of France midfielder Blaise Matuidi from Juventus the previous year. The MLS determined that Matuidi had received compensation exceeding the permitted amount, effectively resulting in the team having four “designated players” instead of the allowed three. The ‘Beckham rule’, introduced when David Beckham joined Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007, allows designated players’ wages to be excluded from the MLS salary cap.
Manchester United’s midfield changes
In the wake of Casemiro’s departure, Manchester United has prioritised strengthening its midfield during the current transfer window. The club has acquired Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa. Reports suggest that United is still seeking to add a third midfielder to their squad.
Casemiro’s career at Old Trafford saw a resurgence during his final 18 months, as he regained his place in the team after initially being out of favour with former head coach Ruben Amorim. In his last season, the Brazilian achieved his most productive campaign in terms of goals, scoring nine times, including five in 15 games under Amorim’s successor, Michael Carrick.
The Red Devils had an option to trigger a 12-month extension to Casemiro’s contract at the end of the season. However, it is understood that United decided not to exercise this option or renew his contract, a decision made well before the end of the season.
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Source: bbc.com
