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All indications suggest Casemiro is set to join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, though the reported talks are believed to "clash with" Major League Soccer's rules regarding Discovery Rights.
After Casemiro confirmed he would not renew his Manchester United contract, despite widespread calls for "one more year," a lengthy queue of interested clubs quickly emerged. Despite continuing to perform well in the Premier League and with a summer ahead where he will lead Brazil's midfield at the World Cup, the 34-year-old seems ready to depart from Europe's top tier.
Approaches from the Saudi Pro League have materialized, yet Casemiro appears drawn to a potential move to MLS. LA Galaxy moved fastest, locking in the Discovery Rights for the five-time Champions League champion. This distinctly MLS mechanism grants clubs the right of first refusal and was created to stop rival teams from competing against each other for the same player.
Inter Miami appear to have disregarded that rule and are in advanced talks with Casemiro, according to The Athletic.
While this goes against the spirit of the regulations, the Herons wouldn't be the first club to poach a player from a rival's Discovery List. Financial compensation is usually offered to resolve this issue, though no such agreement has been reached yet in Casemiro's situation.
The report firmly states that the Brazilian international "wants" to play for Miami and that "a deal is expected to be reached." Nevertheless, the path to get there has been far from simple.
Casemiro Rejects 'Multiple' Contract Offers
Casemiro's resurgence is a testament to his character.@LyesBouzidi10 can't speak highly enough of the Man United midfielder. pic.twitter.com/h2z9SBxZCo
LA Galaxy did not sit on their Discovery Rights. The West Coast club are said to have held "numerous conversations" with Casemiro and his representatives, placing "multiple" offers on the table, each of which was turned down.
No deal has yet been finalized with Miami, but optimism remains high that an agreement can be found. Unlike the Galaxy—or any other club on the continent—the Herons offer the unique appeal of playing alongside a talent of Messi's stature.
Casemiro, as a Brazilian former Real Madrid star, has spent his entire career going head-to-head against the Argentine Barcelona legend. As Casemiro has acknowledged himself, he would relish the opportunity to finally share a pitch with Messi.
Casemiro's Salary Complication
A move to MLS comes with a financial trade-off. Since Miami have already filled all three of their Designated Player slots (Messi is joined by Rodrigo De Paul and Germán Berterame as the club's top earners), Casemiro would be limited to a contract worth under $2 million through the end of 2026. For perspective, United's highest-paid player is currently believed to earn around $20 million per year.
However, if any club can engineer a creative solution, it's Inter Miami. The franchise co-owned by David Beckham has previously structured deferred contracts with players such as De Paul and Jordi Alba, which later included Designated Player status at a further point in their time on South Beach.