Casemiro edges closer towards MLS transfer despite financial concern

Inter Miami are closing in on a deal to sign Casemiro on a free transfer, talkSPORT understands.

The Brazilian midfielder will become a free agent at the end of this season upon the expiration of his Manchester United contract.

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The Red Devils have opted against triggering the one-year extension clause in Casemiro‘s contract.

Casemiro has indicated he wants to join Inter Miami.

Verbal terms have almost been finalised between the two parties.

The Herons are optimistic that they can pull off the transfer while staying within MLS’ financial rules.

Miami bound

With the 34-year-old able to sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs overseas, several sides are already interested in a move.

However, talkSPORT understands Casemiro has made it clear to all suitors, including LA Galaxy, that he has picked Inter Miami.

That is despite LA Galaxy holding Casemiro’s discovery rights.

MLS’ discovery rights are in theory supposed to prevent multiple clubs vying for the same player, but as long as any club can show the financial means to pull a transfer off, there is a path forward.

Inter Miami are not precluded from approaching Casemiro and have held discussions dating back months.

Casemiro would become teammates with former rival Lionel Messi if he joins Miami with the Argentinian signing a new deal in October.

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Messi has spent three years with Inter Miami and helped them win the MLS Cup for the first time in 2025.

Meanwhile, Saudi side Al Ittihad have also been credited with an interest in bringing Casemiro to the Saudi Pro League at the end of the current campaign.

Their interest comes with the club expecting current midfielder and ex-Liverpool star Fabinho to depart in the summer.

The Brazilian is out of contract at the end of this season following three years with Al Ittihad.

Case closed

Since signing from Real Madrid for £60million in 2022, Casemiro has made 160 appearances for United.

Across those outings, he has scored 26 goals and added 14 assists – winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

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Casemiro is yet to be left out of the starting line-up by interim manager Michael Carrick in the games he has been available for.

In his 15 appearances under United’s temporary boss, he has scored five goals and provided one assist.

His form this season has also seen Casemiro named in Carlo Ancleotti’s 26-man Brazil squad.

‘Most disrespected player’

While Casemiro didn’t achieve the same success at Old Trafford as he did at previous club Real Madrid, one fan will be gutted to see him go.

talkSPORT’s Anil Kandola insists the Brazilian is criminally underrated.

“I genuinely think in my life of watching Man United, Casemiro is the most disrespected player at the club,” Kandola said on Inside Devils.

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“In his first season and this season people were giving him his plaudits, but this is a guy who has been shoehorned into different positions and has been asked to do things he’s never done in his career.

“As you go on in your career you should be required to do less running, he’s had to do more running, to cover so much space especially in the Ruben Amorim system.

“Jamie Carragher had to issue an apology, saying maybe the football hasn’t left him.

“You don’t lose that quality just like that… for me, he is the best player in that position I’ve ever seen. Not just at Man United but at Real Madrid also.”