Casemiro is reportedly close to reaching an agreement with Inter Miami after confirming his departure from Manchester United when his contract expires this summer. The 34-year-old Brazilian midfielder has become a fan favorite at Old Trafford, making 160 appearances and scoring 26 goals over four seasons. Despite his impressive performances this season, his contract is ending, and he announced in January that he would leave.
Wages and Performance
While Casemiro has been a key player under manager Michael Carrick, Manchester United are keen to remove his substantial wages from the books, with reports indicating he earns around £350,000 per week. The former Real Madrid star continues to perform at a high level in Europe and has been named in Brazil's squad for the upcoming World Cup. However, his next destination appears to be Major League Soccer.
Inter Miami Interest
According to The Athletic, Casemiro wants to join Inter Miami, the David Beckham-owned club that features Lionel Messi as its star player. The report suggests that the MLS side is 'closing in' on an agreement, but a complication has arisen due to interest from another American club. In MLS, the Discovery List system allows clubs to name five non-MLS players they wish to sign, granting them priority in negotiations. LA Galaxy have already placed Casemiro on their Discovery List, beating Inter Miami to the punch.
Discovery Rights Issue
LA Galaxy have reportedly made multiple contract offers to Casemiro, but the player's preference is to join Inter Miami. However, clubs have previously paid rivals for Discovery Rights to secure their target, so this obstacle is not insurmountable. Additionally, Inter Miami currently have all their designated player slots filled, meaning any new signing would have to accept a salary under $2 million (£1.48 million)—a fraction of his Manchester United wages—unless one of Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, or German Berterame departs.
Fan Affection
Despite the transfer complications, Casemiro has developed a strong bond with Manchester United supporters. In an interview with United We Stand, he said: 'It's incredible, just incredible. My son Caio, who is five years old, is a Manchester United fan. He knows the songs and sings them at home. When the team loses, he cries. Our box is right on top of where the noisy United fans are. They feel this spirit. The most important thing about this club are the fans. Many times, we lose a game but in the next game they support us more. For me, that's incredible. I've never experienced that in my career.'
As Casemiro prepares to leave Old Trafford, Inter Miami are expected to find a way around the Discovery Rights issue to secure his signature.
