Report: Casemiro agrees to Inter Miami move on lucrative terms
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has reportedly agreed to join Inter Miami on a staggering contract worth approximately €80 million per season, according to a sensational claim from Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte. The report states the 34-year-old Brazilian captain has signed a deal through 2028 with the Major League Soccer side, which would see him more than double his Manchester United salary. The move would see Casemiro leave Old Trafford this summer after the club decided not to trigger an automatic contract extension.
Casemiro's potential departure from Manchester United has been anticipated, with the club seeking to revamp its midfield and free up significant wage expenditure. The veteran defensive midfielder has remained a key figure since his arrival from Real Madrid in 2022, but his exit would provide financial flexibility for incoming signings. He recently waived a clause that would have extended his United contract, facilitating a free-agent move at the season's end.
The reported financial terms of the Miami agreement are immediately controversial, as they would allegedly place Casemiro above teammate Lionel Messi on the club's payroll. Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas has previously stated Messi earns up to $80 million annually. The RTI Esporte report further claims the contract includes bonuses for titles won and a share of profits from licensed products featuring Casemiro's image.
However, significant logistical hurdles cast doubt on the report's immediate feasibility. MLS rules permit only three Designated Players, whose salaries exceed the maximum budget charge. Inter Miami's current Designated Players are Lionel Messi, Rodrigo de Paul, and recent signing German Berterame. To accommodate Casemiro as a fourth DP, the club would need to sell or transfer one of its existing trio, with the Mexican striker Berterame appearing the most likely candidate given his recent arrival and the entrenched status of Messi and De Paul.
Such a move would represent a major strategic shift for Miami so early in Berterame's tenure. Furthermore, while a pre-contract agreement in principle is possible, a legally binding signature would put the club in a difficult position if they failed to clear a DP slot in time for the summer transfer window. MLS history includes instances, such as the LA Galaxy's termination of Giovani dos Santos in 2019, where clubs have been forced into drastic measures to maintain roster compliance.
For Casemiro, a move to Inter Miami would offer a lucrative final chapter in a decorated career that includes five Champions League titles and a key role in Brazil's national team. It would also reunite him with former Barcelona and Argentina rival Lionel Messi as a teammate. For Manchester United, his departure marks the end of a high-profile but short-lived era and accelerates the need for a midfield rebuild under the club's new sporting direction.
