Casemiro is on the verge of joining Inter Miami on a three-year contract, rebuffing lucrative offers from Europe, Saudi Arabia, and a host of other Major League Soccer clubs, according to reports.
The Brazilian midfielder, who is departing Manchester United following the expiration of his contract this summer, has chosen a move to South Beach ahead of interest from Italian giants Inter Milan and Juventus, as well as the LA Galaxy.
The proposed reunion with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez is expected to be finalized imminently, marking one of the most significant transfers of the MLS summer window .
However, while the player’s preference is clear, the logistics of the deal are complicated by the intricacies of MLS roster regulations. The LA Galaxy currently hold the league’s “discovery rights” to the 34-year-old .
This mechanism grants the Galaxy the priority right to negotiate with the player. Sources indicate that the Galaxy have held numerous conversations with Casemiro’s representatives and presented multiple contract offers .
Discovery rights disputes are typically settled by the acquiring club compensating the team holding the rights. A precedent was set two years ago when the Galaxy paid Charlotte FC $400,000 in General Allocation Money for the rights to Marco Reus .
The Salary Cap Puzzle
The financial structuring of the deal presents a further hurdle for the Herons.
Current MLS regulations permit clubs three Designated Player slots. Inter Miami’s slots are currently occupied by Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and German Berterame. The LA Galaxy also lack an available DP slot .
If no DP leaves the Florida club this summer, Casemiro’s contract would reportedly need to be worth less than $2 million for the 2026 season .
Industry insiders suggest the club is exploring a mechanism similar to the one used to sign Jordi Alba in 2023, where a player is initially signed with Targeted Allocation Money before being elevated to a DP slot when the roster space becomes available .
A Farewell to Old Trafford
The potential move concludes a four-year stint in England for the Brazilian. Casemiro joined Manchester United from Real Madrid in 2022 for an initial £60 million, a deal Sky Sports’ Gary Neville recently described as having been signed “in a panic” .
Despite a turbulent tenure at Old Trafford, Casemiro enjoyed a renaissance during the 2025/26 campaign. The defensive midfielder scored nine goals and started 33 matches, playing a pivotal role in securing Champions League football for the club .
His final appearance at Old Trafford was an emotional affair. As he was substituted in the second half against Nottingham Forest, the home crowd chanted “One more year!” Casemiro left the pitch in tears, applauding the supporters who displayed banners bearing his name .
“The best thing in this club is you, the fans,” Casemiro told the crowd following the match .
Casemiro will now turn his attention to the World Cup, having been named in Carlo Ancelotti’s final Brazil squad for the tournament this summer, before linking up with his new teammates in Miami .
