Inter Miami announced the signing of 34-year-old Brazilian midfielder Casemiro on July 22, 2026, under a contract lasting through the 2027 MLS sprint season with an option to extend to June 2029 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Casemiro, a veteran player who won five Champions League and three La Liga titles with Real Madrid before joining Manchester United in 2022, most recently represented Brazil at the 2026 World Cup [1, 2, 3, 4].
As part of the signing, Inter Miami acquired Casemiro's discovery rights from LA Galaxy, the MLS club that previously held those rights [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. MLS rules require clubs to negotiate discovery rights before signing a player outside the draft or free agency process [1, 2, 4, 5]. LA Galaxy filed a tampering claim with MLS, alleging Inter Miami contacted Casemiro without first acquiring those rights [5].
Major League Soccer has opened an investigation into the tampering allegations against Inter Miami [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. MLS said it is "reviewing a tampering allegation against Inter Miami CF" and is gathering information but will not comment further until the review is complete [2]. LA Galaxy confirmed that the two clubs have reached a settlement on the discovery rights for Casemiro, but said the terms will be released only after the tampering investigation concludes [1]. MLS has not disclosed any penalties or a timeline for the investigation's conclusion [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Casemiro commented on his new challenge, saying, "What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is winning and continuing to grow" [1].
Inter Miami's signing and the opening of the MLS tampering investigation both took place on July 22, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The league and clubs await the outcome of the probe to finalize the settlement details and any potential disciplinary actions.
