Inter Miami has announced the signing of former Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, but Major League Soccer (MLS) is investigating the club for alleged tampering. The Brazilian international’s deal with Miami is set to run until the end of the 2027 MLS campaign, with an option to extend until June 2029.
Moments after Miami confirmed the signing, the MLS released a statement indicating it was “reviewing a tampering allegation” against the club. The league stated it is “gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete.”
Investigation into Discovery Rights
The investigation centers on 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. Clubs can maintain a list of up to five players for whom they hold these rights, and they can add or remove players from this list.
The Los Angeles Galaxy initially 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 have reached a settlement for the discovery priority to sign Casemiro, with the terms to be released upon the conclusion of the tampering investigation.
The league did not specify whether the tampering allegations relate to direct negotiations Inter Miami may have had with Casemiro before securing his discovery rights, or if the focus is on the acquisition of the rights themselves. This is not the first instance of Inter Miami being investigated over transfer dealings.
Casemiro’s Career and New Chapter
Casemiro, who is 34 years old, left Manchester United at the end of last season after a mutual decision not to renew his contract. He spent four years at Old Trafford, during which he scored in the League Cup final victory in 2023 and won the FA Cup in 2024. He also played a role in the United side that reached the Europa League final in May 2025.
Before his move to United in 2022, Casemiro won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid. He also represented Brazil at this summer’s World Cup, where the team reached the last 16. During his time at United, he made 160 appearances, scoring 26 goals and providing 14 assists.
Upon joining Inter Miami, 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.” He added that the project presented by the club and the effort made to bring him there meant a great deal to him.
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 Casemiro’s arrival, highlighting his winning mentality and successful career at the highest level.
Following Casemiro’s departure, Manchester United have focused on strengthening their midfield, with the acquisitions of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.
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Source: bbc.com
