Casemiro has revealed that the chance to play alongside Lionel Messi was the one of the main reasons behind his move to Inter Miami.
The 34-year-old completed his move to MLS last week after leaving Manchester United as a free agent, signing a deal with Miami that runs through the 2027 season with an option to extend until June 2029.
Although he said offers arrived from elsewhere, including clubs in Italy, Casemiro said Miami was the destination he wanted because of the chance to link up with Messi.
“For me, without a doubt, I am coming only to play with the best player of all time,” Casemiro said. “I want to enjoy, I want to help him to keep winning because he is a winner. Another player is joining who wants to win, who wants to compete.
“I am where I want to be in MLS. I left United as a free agent, I had options in Italy, other teams in different places, but I am where I want to be. I want to enjoy being with him, helping him win and making him bigger. He’s one of, if not the god of football, and I want to help.”
The move brings together two players who spent years on opposite sides of Spain’s biggest rivalry. Casemiro won multiple trophies during nine seasons at Real Madrid while Messi was at Barcelona, with the pair regularly meeting in clásico fixtures.
“The amount of problems Messi gave me, of course I dreamed of playing with him,” Casemiro said. “I always wanted to play with the best. I could never stop him, I always needed help from my teammates. I am very happy that I am now with him, and I want to keep winning with him.”
A Miami welcome 🩷🖤 @Casemiro pic.twitter.com/YQcqqiNRub
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 31, 2026
MLS champions Inter can get even better with Casemiro
Since Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, the club have won the Leagues Cup, the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup, which they secured last year after beating Vancouver in the final.
Casemiro made his debut in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Montreal in Canada. Inter have won both league matches since the MLS season resumed after the World Cup and sit second in both the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield standings on 37 points, two behind Nashville SC.
Messi has not featured for Miami since helping Argentina reach a second successive World Cup final, where Spain claimed a 1-0 victory. The forward returned to training on Wednesday after a break in Argentina, although his return date has yet to be confirmed.
