Casemiro told Los Angeles Galaxy he “only wanted to play for them” the club’s general manager Will Kuntz says, amid an investigation into his transfer to Inter Miami.
The Brazil midfielder, 34, joined Lionel Messi at Inter Miami on a free transfer from Manchester United in July, signing sadeal that runs to the end of the 2027 MLS campaign, with an option to extend until June 2029.
Casemiro scored an own goal in Miami’s 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew on Sunday as Messis returned to a vtion after the World Cup.
Kuntz, who oversees LA Galaxy’s transfers, was speaking to the media after his side’s goalless draw with Dallas when he was asked about Major League Soccer’s review into Inter Miami’s signing of Casemiro.
“It is true that Casemiro called and said that he always wanted to play for Inter Miami,” Kuntz said. “It’s also true that came two months after he told us that he only wanted to play for the Galaxy.”
The probe concerns Casemiro’s discovery rights, an MLS regulation that gives a specific club first refusal over a player should they want to join.
The MLS announced their investigation into Inter Miami’s signing of the five-time Champions League winner just minutes after the signing was announced.
“The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete,” the league said.
“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.”
An MLS club may have up to five players on their discovery list at any time and can add or remove players. This rule has been in place since the league was formed in 1996, with nothing like this existing in European football.
The California-based team held the discovery rights for Casemiro but in announcing the player’s signing, Inter Miami said they had acquired the rights from the Galaxy.
LA Galaxy said: “The LA Galaxy and Inter Miami CF have reached a settlement for the discovery priority to sign Casemiro, and the terms will be released upon conclusion of the tampering investigation currently open with Major League Soccer.”
Casemiro had previously addressed the situation with LA Galaxy saying he “left it very clear to them that [he] wanted to join Miami”.
“In the end, [Miami]’s a city I love. My wife, my kids and I are always here when we have days off. We know the city,” Casemiro said.
“When I spoke to [the Galaxy], I made it very clear which team I wanted to join in the MLS and that is Inter Miami because of the project, the hope and of course to play with the best player of all time.”
BBC Sport has approached Casemiro’s agent and Inter Miami for comment.
