Inter Miami have signed former Manchester United midfielder Casemiro as a free agent, though the move has triggered a formal investigation by Major League Soccer into potential tampering.
The 34-year-old Brazilian has agreed a one-year deal running until the end of the 2027 “sprint season”, with an option to extend through the 2028-29 campaign. However, the league confirmed it is reviewing how Inter Miami secured the discovery rights to negotiate with the player.
Discovery Rights and Investigation
Under MLS regulations, clubs maintain lists of up to five external players for whom they hold priority signing rights. Teams can negotiate transfers of these discovery rights between themselves, as happened when Los Angeles Galaxy paid Charlotte FC $400,000 for Marco Reus’s rights in 2024. Inter Miami acquired Casemiro’s discovery priority from the Los Angeles Galaxy, allowing them to complete the signing.
The league confirmed it is examining how the Florida club secured the right to negotiate with the former Real Madrid star. “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,” MLS said. The league did not specify whether the allegation concerns direct contact with Casemiro prior to securing the rights, or the manner in which the rights were obtained.
Career Pedigree
The São Paulo native arrives with substantial silverware from European football. He won five Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns during his decade at Real Madrid before spending four seasons at Manchester United, where he lifted the 2023-24 FA Cup.
Casemiro also represented Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, where the Seleçao were eliminated by Norway in the last 16. He now joins an Inter Miami squad already featuring Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez as the club defends its 2025 MLS Cup title.
Club Welcome
Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas praised the acquisition, 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: “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.”