Inter Miami’s latest signing under scrutiny
Major League Soccer (MLS) has initiated an investigation into Inter Miami following allegations of tampering related to the club’s acquisition of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro. The 34-year-old, who departed Manchester United at the conclusion of last season, signed a deal with Inter Miami that extends until the end of the 2027 MLS campaign, with an option to prolong it until June 2029.
Shortly after the announcement of Casemiro’s signing, the MLS released a statement confirming it was “reviewing a tampering allegation” against the club. The league stated it is in the process of gathering all pertinent information and will not comment further until the review is finalised.
Discovery rights central to investigation
The investigation primarily concerns Casemiro’s discovery rights, an MLS regulation designed to grant a specific club the first opportunity to sign a player should they wish to join the league. Clubs are permitted to have up to five players on their discovery list at any given time, with the flexibility to add or remove players as needed.
Los Angeles Galaxy initially held the discovery rights for Casemiro. However, Inter Miami, in their announcement of the player’s signing, stated they had acquired these rights from the Galaxy. Both clubs confirmed a settlement had been reached for the discovery priority, with the terms to be disclosed once the tampering investigation concludes.
Casemiro expressed his motivation, stating, “What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is winning and continuing to grow. The project the club presented to me, along with the effort everyone made to bring me here, means a lot to me.” He added, “I’m incredibly grateful, and I can’t wait to get started so I can repay that trust, not only during the 90 minutes on matchday, but every day in training as well.”
Casemiro’s career and previous club history
Casemiro’s move to Inter Miami follows a four-year tenure at Manchester United, which he joined in August 2022. During his time at Old Trafford, he made 160 appearances, scoring 26 goals and providing 14 assists. He contributed to United’s success in winning one EFL Cup and one FA Cup. He scored in the League Cup final victory in 2023 and reached two FA Cup finals, winning the competition in 2024. He was also part of the United side that reached the Europa League final in May 2025.
Before his time at United, Casemiro enjoyed significant success with Real Madrid, where he won five Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns, and a Copa del Rey. He played for Brazil as they reached the last 16 at this summer’s World Cup. He announced in January that he would leave Old Trafford at the end of the 2026-27 season by mutual agreement not to renew his contract.
Manchester United had an option to trigger a 12-month extension to his contract, but decided not to take it up. In the wake of Casemiro’s departure, United have focused on strengthening their midfield, acquiring Andrey Santos for £50m from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans for £35m from Aston Villa.
At Inter Miami, Casemiro is expected to link up with former Real Madrid and Manchester United team-mate Sergio Reguilon, as well as Argentina’s World Cup finalists Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul. The team is defending their 2025 MLS Cup title.
Previous investigations and club statements
This is not the first instance of Inter Miami facing scrutiny over transfer dealings. In 2021, the club was fined $2m for violating MLS rules during the signing of French midfielder Blaise Matuidi from Juventus the previous year. The league determined that Matuidi had been paid more than permitted, effectively giving the team four “designated players” instead of the allowed three. The “Beckham rule,” introduced when David Beckham joined Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007, allows for designated players whose wages do not count towards the MLS salary cap.
Inter Miami co-owner Sir David Beckham commented on Casemiro’s arrival, stating, “He is a winner who has achieved so much in the game and after such an incredible career with Real Madrid and Manchester United I’m delighted that he’s decided to make Miami his next home.” Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas added, “Casemiro embodies everything this club stands for: leadership, a winning mentality, and an extraordinary track record at the highest level of the game.”
The MLS has not specified potential penalties or a timeline for the conclusion of the current investigation into Inter Miami.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
Adam Rutherford is a Senior Football Correspondent at News-UK. He spent his early career filing match reports across the North West. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Manchester, he coaches a youth team and watches grassroots football. “Every transfer window hides a dozen real stories.”
