Brazilian midfielder Casemiro is emerging as a potential reinforcement for Inter Miami, the team where Lionel Messi already plays.

Despite reported interest from Al Nassr to reunite him with Cristiano Ronaldo, sources suggest Casemiro is closer to Fort Lauderdale than Saudi Arabia. The player announced his decision to leave Manchester United on January 22, 2024, and has since been one of the team's standout players. Casemiro has been one of the most consistent midfielders in the Premier League, prompting fans to call for the activation of a one-year extension clause available in his contract.

The player confirmed his final decision to leave Manchester United. Casemiro stated: "I believe the announcement is now done. It's huge, the affection that the fans have shown me. But I really believe the decision is made and done. I'm enjoying myself right now. I believe there will be some difficult moments, these final games at Manchester United," he told Adam Crafton of The Athletic on Thursday after Brazil's 2-1 defeat against France.

Fabrizio Romano reported that Inter Miami is one of the clubs interested in signing Casemiro. The Herons have already started talks with the player's representatives and submitted an initial proposal to bring him to the East Coast alongside Messi.

Interest in Casemiro also extends to clubs in Europe and Saudi Arabia, areas where Inter Miami could struggle financially. Diario Marca reported that Al Nassr has already made an offer to the player to join Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, a significantly more lucrative offer.

However, Casemiro's decision does not seem to be purely financial, as the midfielder has been sending his own signals. Diario AS reports that the Brazilian recently purchased a home in Miami, a clear indication that Inter Miami's ambitious project has genuine appeal beyond just the numbers.

From a team perspective, Casemiro would be a significant addition to Inter Miami, especially given the problems the club has experienced in central midfield this season. Sergio Busquets' retirement left a major void, and David Ayala, brought in from the Portland Timbers as his replacement, has had difficulty settling in, contributing to the team's exit in the round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

On the financial side, the obstacles are considerable. While Casemiro would arrive as a free agent, which would spare Inter Miami any transfer fee, as would be the case with a potential deal with Bernardo Silva, the club only has $17,361 available in 2026 General Allocation Money, as revealed by MLS in February. With the midfielder demanding a base salary of around $25 million, matching that figure is simply not realistic for the Herons.

With all three Designated Player slots currently occupied by Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and German Berterame, Inter Miami's options are limited, but not entirely closed. The club acquired an international roster spot from the New England Revolution in the last transfer window, although it must be returned if unused by July.

If the Herons can offload enough players to free up funds, and if Casemiro is willing to take a significant pay cut, there is still a path for him to join Lionel Messi for the second half of the 2026 MLS season.