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Inter Miami are reportedly closing in on a sensational deal to bring Casemiro to Major League Soccer following his departure from Manchester United.
The legendary Brazilian midfielder has reportedly chosen South Florida as his destination of choice, setting the stage for a mouth-watering reunion with several former rivals and friends in the US.
Inter Miami wins the race for Casemiro
The Manchester United veteran has made up his mind. After leaving Old Trafford this summer, Casemiro has identified Inter Miami as his next home. Athletics reports that while several options were on the table, the 34-year-old is determined to move to Vice City.
The move would see the Brazil international join an all-star list that already includes Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and German Berterame. Despite interest from around the globe, the lure of the ambitious MLS project in Miami has proved too strong for the five-time Champions League winner, who is coming off a resurgent Premier League last season.
Galaxy frustrated by dispute over discovery rights
The deal is not without its complications, as LA Galaxy currently hold the “discovery rights” for the midfielder. Under MLS rules, the Galaxy have priority to negotiate with the player, and the club hoped to convince Casemiro to move to California instead. Reports suggest the Galaxy held several talks with the player’s representatives and submitted multiple contract offers.
This mechanism is designed to prevent MLS teams from driving up prices by bidding against each other for the same international targets. However, Casemiro’s insistence on joining Miami has forced a standoff. If a deal is to be completed, Miami will likely have to compensate the Galaxy, similar to how Los Angeles paid Charlotte FC $400,000 for the rights to sign Marco Reus two seasons ago.
Roster gymnastics and the Jordi Alba plan
A primary obstacle for the Herons is their lack of an open Designated Player (DP) slot. With Messi and others occupying these positions, Casemiro’s starting salary should be under the $2 million threshold for the current season. To get around this, Miami is expected to follow the plan used to sign Jordi Alba in 2023, using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) before eventually elevating him to DP status.
The club will likely structure the deal with a non-guaranteed option that triggers a salary increase when roster space becomes available. That financial creativity is a hallmark of the Miami front office, which remains desperate to bolster the squad after a tumultuous campaign that saw head coach Javier Mascherano depart earlier this season.
A decorated legend goes to the World Cup
Casemiro arrives in North America with one of the most decorated resumes in modern soccer history. During his iconic spell at Real Madrid, he lifted the Champions League trophy five times and secured three La Liga titles. His form has remained high as he scored nine goals in 33 starts for Manchester United last term, helping them secure third place and a return to Europe’s elite competition.
Before pulling on the pink shirt in Miami, Casemiro has international business to attend to. He has been named in Carlo Ancelotti’s final Brazil squad for this summer’s World Cup, where he will look to add to his 84 caps. Once his duties with the Selecao are complete, the midfielder is expected to join an Inter Miami side currently sitting on 28 points as they look to defend their MLS Cup crown under interim boss Guillermo Hoyos.
