Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas has firmly defended the club’s conduct in securing the signing of Casemiro amid an ongoing MLS investigation into potential tampering.
The 34-year-old former Real Madrid midfielder was officially introduced at his new Major League Soccer home last week, drawing significant attention from across the football world.
The league announced it would investigate whether Inter Miami engaged in tampering to secure the deal, casting a shadow over what should have been a celebratory occasion for the club.
At the heart of the matter is the fact that Casemiro’s discovery rights were held by the LA Galaxy, which by league rules would have prevented Inter Miami from negotiating directly with the player.
The two clubs eventually reached a settlement that allowed the transfer to proceed, but MLS continues to probe the tampering allegation regardless of that agreement.
Mas was direct in his defence of the club’s process, saying: “The rules are the rules, and we abided by those rules to the letter of the law.”
The co-owner also acknowledged that ambiguity around which players appear on discovery rights lists adds a layer of difficulty to navigating the process for all clubs involved.
Mas confirmed that Inter Miami had contacted the LA Galaxy before initiating any talks with the Brazilian international, stressing the club sought proper clearance first.
“We entered into no negotiation or conversations with Casemiro or his representatives previous to us talking to the league and talking to the LA Galaxy about working out how we’re able to be given a green light,” Mas said.
Casemiro himself addressed the prospect of sharing a dressing room with Lionel Messi, a player he has faced many times throughout his decorated career at the highest level.
“To be honest, all the players want to face the best teams in the world and the best players, so it is a dream come true playing in the same team,” Casemiro said during his official presentation.
The Brazilian was also candid about his motivations for joining Inter Miami, making clear that Messi’s presence was a central factor in his decision to move to Major League Soccer.
“Of course if I’m here it’s because of him and to help him and Inter Miami,” Casemiro said, speaking warmly about the Argentine captain who now leads the Miami club.
“I want to enjoy being with him, help him win, make him even greater. He’s one of the gods, if not the god of football,” Casemiro added in remarks that underlined his admiration for his new teammate.
Messi himself has not yet featured for Inter Miami following the World Cup, where he led Argentina to the final before losing 1-0 to Spain, and is currently observing a rest period for tournament participants.
The 37-year-old has been pictured in training, with photos appearing on the club’s official social media channels suggesting he is preparing for his return to action.
