Manchester United release Casemiro amid MLS tampering probe
Manchester United have released Casemiro to Inter Miami on a free transfer, a move that highlights both the financial recalibration at Old Trafford and the complex, legally fraught business rules governing Major League Soccer's player acquisition market.
Casemiro has left Manchester United after four years to sign with Inter Miami on a free transfer. The 34-year-old has signed a contract running through the 2027 MLS season, which includes an option to extend until 2029.
United opted not to trigger a 12-month extension on his deal, a decision the club made well before the end of the season. Allowing a high-profile asset to depart for no transfer fee represents a notable financial miss under standard European football economics, where selling players remains a primary revenue stream. The club has already moved to refresh its midfield by signing Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, and is reportedly pursuing a third midfielder.
During his time at Old Trafford, Casemiro scored in the 2023 League Cup final, won the 2024 FA Cup, and reached the 2025 Europa League final. He experienced a late resurgence under manager Michael Carrick, scoring nine goals in his final season after initially falling out of favour under former head coach Ruben Amorim.
His move to the United States, however, has immediately collided with the strict regulatory framework governing American soccer. Major League Soccer has launched a formal investigation into Inter Miami over tampering allegations tied to the signing.
Unlike Europe's open market, MLS utilizes a "Discovery Priority" system. This rule dictates that clubs must negotiate rights with any team that previously registered an interest in a player before signing him outside the draft or free agency. LA Galaxy held the discovery rights to Casemiro.
Both Inter Miami and LA Galaxy confirmed they have reached a settlement over these rights. However, the financial terms of that agreement will not be made public until the league's tampering investigation concludes. MLS did not specify a timeline for the review or outline potential penalties.
"What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is winning and continuing to grow," Casemiro said. "The project the club presented to me, along with the effort everyone made to bring me here, means a lot to me."
