Inter Miami signs Casemiro
Inter Miami has announced the signing of Brazil midfielder Casemiro on a free transfer. The 34-year-old, who departed Manchester United at the conclusion of last season, has agreed to a deal that extends until the end of the 2027 MLS campaign, with an option for an extension until June 2029.
Sir David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami, expressed his enthusiasm for the signing, stating that Casemiro is a winner with an impressive career at both Real Madrid and Manchester United. Casemiro himself shared his motivation, noting that winning and continuous growth are what drive him most, and he is grateful for the project presented by the club.
At Inter Miami, Casemiro is expected to join former Real Madrid and Manchester United teammate Sergio Reguilon, as well as Argentina‘s World Cup finalists Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul. Casemiro previously won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid before transferring to United in 2022. He also played for Brazil as they reached the last 16 at this summer’s World Cup.
MLS launches tampering investigation
Following the announcement of Casemiro’s signing, Major League Soccer released a statement indicating it is reviewing a tampering allegation against Inter Miami. The league is currently gathering relevant information and will not comment further until the review is complete.
The investigation pertains to Casemiro’s discovery rights, an MLS regulation that grants a specific club the first opportunity to sign a player if they wish to join the league. Los Angeles Galaxy held the discovery rights for Casemiro. However, Inter Miami stated that they had acquired these rights from the Galaxy as part of the transfer agreement.
Both Inter Miami and LA Galaxy have reached a settlement regarding the discovery priority to sign Casemiro. The terms of this settlement are expected to be released once the tampering investigation concludes. LA Galaxy confirmed this settlement on a social media platform.
This is not the first instance of Inter Miami facing scrutiny over transfer dealings. In 2021, the club was fined $2m for violating MLS rules during the signing of France midfielder Blaise Matuidi from Juventus the previous year. The MLS determined that Matuidi had been paid more than permitted, effectively giving the team four designated players instead of the allowed three, whose wages do not count towards the MLS salary cap.
Casemiro’s career at Manchester United
Casemiro spent four years at Old Trafford, making 160 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 26 goals and providing 14 assists. During his tenure, he secured one EFL Cup and one FA Cup. 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 side that reached the Europa League final in May 2025.
Casemiro’s departure from United was a mutual decision not to renew his contract, announced in January, with his exit planned for the end of the 2026-27 season. United had the option to trigger a 12-month extension at the end of the season but chose not to, a decision made well before the season concluded.
Following Casemiro’s departure, Manchester United has focused on strengthening its midfield during the current transfer window. The club has acquired Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50m and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m. Reports suggest United may still be seeking a third midfielder.
Casemiro’s final season at United saw his most productive campaign in front of goal, scoring nine times, including five in 15 games under Michael Carrick, who replaced former head coach Ruben Amorim.
Source: bbc.co.uk