Former Manchester United midfielder Casemiro’s move to Inter Miami is under investigation by Major League Soccer over allegations of tampering by Sir David Beckham’s club.
Miami announced Casemiro’s signing on Wednesday in a deal to run until the end of next season with the option to extend it until 2029. However, almost immediately MLS revealed that they are looking into an allegation relating to how Miami acquired the discovery rights from LA Galaxy to sign the 34-year-old Brazil international.
The discovery list gives MLS clubs first refusal over prospective signings and prevents them from competing against one another for a player. The Galaxy had the discovery rights to Casemiro but Miami said they acquired them in an agreement believed to be worth around £750,000.
‘Major League Soccer is reviewing a tampering allegation against Inter Miami CF,’ the statement read. ‘The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete.
‘While Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy have reached a settlement for the discovery priority to sign Casemiro, the terms will be released upon conclusion of the tampering investigation.’
Inter Miami confirmed the signing of former Manchester United midfielder Casemiro
MLS immediately confirmed an investigation has been launched into David Beckham’s into an allegation relating to how Miami acquired the discovery rights from LA Galaxy
Miami have fallen foul of MLS’s financial regulations in the past. In 2021, they were fined £1.5m for falsely reporting Blaise Matuidi’s salary, which also resulted in chief operating officer Paul McDonough being suspended for a year and managing owner Jorge Mas being fined £187,000.
The club were also hit with penalties of £1.7m relating to similar breaches involving Andres Reyes, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Nicolas Figal and Julian Carranza.
Casemiro is joining Miami as a free agent following four years at Old Trafford after United decided not to extend his contract. The former Real Madrid star helped Brazil reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup earlier this month where they were knocked out by Norway.
