Casemiro agreed a deal with Inter Miami after leaving Manchester United. The move came just hours after criticism over his latest World Cup performance, and it now points him toward MLS next season alongside Lionel Messi.
Inter Miami and the Discovery Hurdle
The agreement was struck as a verbal deal between all parties, with Inter Miami having to work through discovery rights held by LA Galaxy. That obstacle mattered because MLS clubs can hold those rights even when another team is trying to sign the player, so Miami had to clear the route before bringing the 34-year-old midfielder in.
Casemiro is expected to play in MLS when club football returns after the World Cup. He will also step into the midfield role Sergio Busquets left behind after retiring at the end of 2025 following Inter Miami's MLS Cup success.
Brazil's Latest Test
The timing sharpened the scrutiny. Brazil drew 1-1 with Morocco in its first group game, and Casemiro was withdrawn at half-time. In the second game, Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 and he played the full match.
O Globo asked eight columnists and correspondents to assess Brazil's performance against Haiti, and five of the eight selected Casemiro as one of Brazil's poorest performers. Yet he finished that match having won the most duels, made the most tackles and earned the most fouls for Brazil.
Messi Awaits in Florida
The move sends him to a lineup that already includes Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, Luis Suarez and Sergio Reguilon. For Inter Miami, the practical effect is simple: a midfield spot opens for a 34-year-old former Manchester United player who is expected to anchor the side when club football restarts after the World Cup.
What remains is the final step between agreement and a player actually joining the squad, but the football fit is already clear. Casemiro is headed to Florida to replace Busquets' role and join a group built to carry Inter Miami into MLS's next stretch.
