Inter Miami has finalized a deal to bring Casemiro, the five-time Champions League winner, to Major League Soccer. The Brazilian midfielder’s departure from Manchester United marks the end of a tenure that started with enormous expectations.

The road to Miami was anything but simple

The deal was held up by a discovery rights dispute involving LA Galaxy, which held Casemiro’s MLS rights despite the player’s clear preference for Inter Miami. MLS has a system where clubs can essentially “claim” international players they’re interested in, giving them first dibs on negotiations. LA Galaxy had done exactly that with Casemiro, even though he had no apparent interest in moving to Los Angeles.

LA Galaxy reportedly requested approximately $1 million from Inter Miami as compensation for relinquishing those discovery rights. Personal terms between Casemiro and Inter Miami were reportedly agreed upon well before the deal’s completion. The holdup was entirely structural, a function of MLS’s unique roster rules rather than any disagreement between player and club.

The secondary transfer window for MLS runs from July 13 through September 2026, which created a hard deadline for all parties to sort out the logistics.

Salary cap realities and designated player math

Casemiro joins Inter Miami as a free agent following the expiration of his Manchester United contract on June 30, 2026. Inter Miami reportedly lacked an open designated player slot at the time of negotiations, meaning Casemiro’s initial salary could be capped at under $2 million.

Inter Miami has been active in the transfer market beyond just Casemiro. The club has acquired international roster slots and signed additional players, suggesting a broader squad-building effort rather than a single splash signing.