Casemiro Leaves United for Inter Miami as Free Agent After Four-Year Spell | OneFootball

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Casemiro (33) will join Inter Miami once his Manchester United contract expires on 30 June, bringing a four-year spell at Old Trafford to a close. The Brazilian informed United in January that he would be leaving as a free agent, and Romano’s confirmation – his standard ‘here we go’ signal of a fully agreed move – resolves what had become a crowded pursuit involving LA Galaxy, Al Ittihad, and Al Nassr.

Casemiro made 160 appearances in all competitions for United but his final season was a significant step back from the player who arrived from Real Madrid in 2022. He had been dropped from United’s matchday squad ahead of his departure, a clear signal from Ruben Amorim that the Brazilian no longer figured in first-team plans regardless of how the transfer situation resolved.

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Romano’s confirmation and the deal structure

Romano confirmed the move via his X account, with Inter Miami emerging as Casemiro’s destination after what proved to be a protracted process. LA Galaxy had initially held MLS discovery rights over the player, forcing Miami to negotiate a settlement with the Galaxy before they could formalise their approach – a complication that delayed proceedings but ultimately did not derail them.

Casemiro joins on a free transfer. Reports in Brazil have pointed to a three-year contract being discussed, though the exact length and salary terms have not been formally disclosed by either club. He will be registered during MLS’s secondary transfer window, which opens on 13 July, meaning his earliest possible debut falls after that date. Stretty News reported last month that verbal terms were being finalised, and Romano’s confirmation has now locked in the destination.

A Brazilian report claiming Casemiro had agreed a deal worth around €80 million per season – surpassing Lionel Messi – was dismissed by transfer analysts as incompatible with MLS roster rules and Miami’s existing wage structure. Those figures should be disregarded entirely.

Casemiro’s United career and why this departure was inevitable

Casemiro was outstanding in his debut season, providing exactly the defensive midfield anchor United had been missing for years. Alas, what followed was a steep and visible decline – his mobility, decision-making under pressure, and defensive positioning all deteriorated to the point where he became a liability in high-tempo games rather than a solution to them.

INEOS’s squad restructuring made his exit structurally inevitable. Shifting his wages off the books matters in the context of United’s PSR management, and the midfield rebuild has a clear direction. United are in advanced stages to sign Ederson from Atalanta as Casemiro’s long-term successor, a signing that signals intent about the profile of midfielder Amorim wants running the engine room.

What happens next

At Miami, Casemiro is lined up to replace Sergio Busquets as the anchor behind Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and a squad that won the MLS title last season. The lifestyle draw – he visited Miami with his family before making his decision – proved more compelling than the financial pull of Saudi Arabia.

The next concrete steps are the official club announcement from Inter Miami and Casemiro’s registration when the secondary window opens on 13 July. It remains to be seen whether United can complete the Ederson deal swiftly enough to ensure Amorim has his midfield structure settled before pre-season begins.