Inter Miami have secured Casemiro on a free transfer, but Major League Soccer is examining whether the South Florida club engaged in tampering during the pursuit of the Brazilian midfielder.
The midfielder has inked a deal that runs from now until the end of the 2027 “sprint season,” the short campaign that precedes MLS’s shift to a fall-to-spring schedule in 2027-28, effectively a one-year contract. An extension clause could keep him in Miami through the 2028-29 season.
Both the club and league acknowledged that Inter Miami had obtained Casemiro’s discovery rights from the Los Angeles Galaxy. The league did not reveal the terms or method by which Miami acquired that priority.
“Major League Soccer is looking into an alleged tampering violation involving Inter Miami CF,” the league’s statement read. “All pertinent details are being collected, and no further remarks will be issued until the review concludes. Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy have reached an agreement regarding the Discovery Priority for Casemiro’s signing; the specifics will be disclosed once the tampering inquiry is finished.”
A five-time Champions League winner during his years with Real Madrid, Casemiro recently wrapped up a four-season spell at Manchester United. He represented Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, where the Seleção fell to Norway in the round of 16. Renowned as a commanding holding midfielder, he joins an Inter Miami squad that already features stars like Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and Luis Suárez, as they prepare to defend the 2025 MLS Cup title.
In MLS, the majority of prominent player acquisitions from abroad are managed through the discovery process. Each club keeps a list of up to five players for whom they hold priority signing rights if those players choose to join the league. It does not, however, guarantee exclusive negotiating power—clubs can broker deals to transfer discovery rights from one to another, clearing the way for negotiations. Marco Reus, for example, was on Charlotte FC’s discovery list when the LA Galaxy pursued him in 2024, leading the Galaxy to send $400,000 to Charlotte for his rights.
The league’s announcement of the investigation did not clarify whether the tampering accusation stemmed from any direct conversations Inter Miami may have had with Casemiro before securing his discovery rights, or if it centered on the acquisition of those rights itself.
The 34-year-old is widely regarded among the finest midfielders of his era. Born in São Paulo, he transferred to Real Madrid in 2013 and collected five Champions League trophies, three La Liga titles, and a Copa del Rey. His most notable achievement with Manchester United was lifting the 2023-24 FA Cup.
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“Casemiro represents everything this club values: leadership, a relentless winning mindset, and a remarkable résumé at the pinnacle of the sport,” Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas stated in the club’s release.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham added: “He is a person and a player I have respected for a very long time. He is a champion who has accomplished so much in the game, and after such an extraordinary journey with Real Madrid and Manchester United, I am thrilled that he has chosen Miami as his next home.”
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