Inter Miami have signed Casemiro as a free agent, but the move is now under league scrutiny. Major League Soccer announced it is investigating the South Florida club for potential tampering in the acquisition of the Brazilian midfielder.
Casemiro has inked a one-year deal with Miami that runs through the end of the 2027 sprint season, when MLS switches to a fall-to-spring calendar. The contract includes an extension option that could keep him through the 2028-29 season.
Inter Miami acquired Casemiro's discovery rights from the Los Angeles Galaxy, though MLS has not disclosed the terms of that transfer. The league said both clubs reached a settlement on the discovery priority, but specifics will remain sealed until the tampering investigation concludes.
"Major League Soccer is reviewing a tampering allegation against Inter Miami CF," the league said in its statement. "The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete."
It remains unclear whether the tampering charge centers on whether Inter Miami engaged in direct negotiations with Casemiro before acquiring his discovery rights, or whether the focus is on how the club obtained those rights from LA Galaxy.
The 34-year-old defensive midfielder arrives at Inter Miami as one of the most decorated players ever to sign with MLS. He won five Champions League titles at Real Madrid, where he spent 11 seasons starting in 2013, along with three La Liga crowns and a Copa del Rey. At Manchester United, his signature achievement was winning the 2023-24 FA Cup.
Casemiro joins an already star-studded Inter Miami roster that includes Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and Luis Suárez. The team is defending its 2025 MLS Cup title.
In MLS's discovery system, teams maintain lists of up to five international players they have priority to sign. While only the team with discovery rights can negotiate directly with a player, clubs can trade or sell those rights to each other. The Galaxy paid Charlotte FC $400,000 for Marco Reus' discovery rights when acquiring him in 2024.
Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas praised the signing, saying Casemiro "embodies everything this club stands for: leadership, a winning mentality, and an extraordinary track record at the highest level of the game."
Co-owner David Beckham added that he had long admired Casemiro and was pleased to see him choose Miami for his next chapter after successful stints at Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Author James Rodriguez: "The timing is awkward for Inter Miami, but if the investigation finds nothing more than standard business between two clubs, this signing could reshape their midfield for the playoff push."
Comments