Inter Miami sign Casemiro amidst MLS tampering investigation
Inter Miami has signed Brazilian midfielder Casemiro as a free agent, a move now subject to a Major League Soccer investigation into potential tampering by the South Florida club. Inter Miami's acquisition was announced alongside news of the league's review.
Casemiro’s contract runs for one year, concluding at the end of the 2027 “sprint season,” which precedes MLS’s transition to a fall-to-spring calendar in 2027-28. The deal includes an option for an extension, potentially keeping him with Miami through the 2028-29 MLS season.
Discovery rights and the tampering allegation
Both Inter Miami and MLS confirmed that Inter Miami acquired Casemiro’s discovery rights from the Los Angeles Galaxy. However, the league did not specify the terms under which these rights were transferred.
Major League Soccer released a statement confirming it is "reviewing a tampering allegation against Inter Miami CF." The league is gathering information and will not comment further until the review concludes. While Inter Miami and the LA Galaxy have settled on the discovery priority, the terms will be disclosed after the investigation.
The MLS discovery process allows each team to hold priority over up to five players outside the league. Clubs can trade discovery rights, as seen when the LA Galaxy paid Charlotte FC $400,000 for Marco Reus's discovery rights in 2024. The MLS announcement did not specify if the tampering allegation pertains to any direct negotiations Inter Miami might have had with Casemiro prior to securing his discovery rights.
Casemiro's decorated career
Casemiro joins Inter Miami with a distinguished background, including five UEFA Champions League titles during his tenure with Real Madrid. He recently concluded a four-season spell with Manchester United.
The defensive midfielder also represented Brazil in the 2026 World Cup, where the Seleção reached the last 16 before elimination by Norway. He brings significant experience to an Inter Miami squad that includes Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and Luis Suárez, a team that defended its 2025 MLS Cup title.
Reporting: The Guardian