Casemiro: Inter Miami are being investigated for abuse after signing the midfielder from Manchester United

Major League Soccer says it is investigating allegations of fraud by Inter Miami after the club signed Brazilian midfielder Casemiro.

On Wednesday, Miami announced they had signed the 34-year-old – who left Manchester United at the end of last season – to a deal that will run through the 2027 MLS campaign, with an option to extend until June 2029.

But moments later, MLS released a statement saying it was “reviewing allegations of abuse” against the club.

“The department is collecting all relevant information and will not comment further until the review is completed,” he added.

“While Inter Miami CF and LA Galaxy have reached an agreement for the first acquisition [first rights] to sign Casemiro, terms will be released once the tampering investigation has been completed.”

The investigation concerns Casemiro’s acquisition rights, an MLS rule that gives a club first refusal on a player if it wants to join.

A team may have up to five players on its acquisition list at any time and may add or remove players.

The Los Angeles Galaxy hold the rights to Casemiro but when announcing the player’s signing, Inter Miami said they have acquired the rights from the Galaxy.

LA Galaxy said in a statement: “LA Galaxy and Inter Miami CF have reached an agreement on the early signing of Casemiro, and terms will be released once the fraud investigation currently open by Major League Soccer is completed.”

Casemiro announced in January that he would be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the 2026-27 season following a similar decision not to renew his contract.

He won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid before moving to United in 2022, playing for Brazil as they reached the last 16 of the World Cup this summer.

“What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is winning and continuing to grow,” he said.

Casemiro made 160 appearances for United, scoring 26 goals and providing 14 assists as he won one EFL Cup and one FA Cup.

Following the departure of Casemiro, United have prioritized strengthening the midfield this window, buying Andrey Santos for £50m from Chelsea, and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m.

Before the investigation was announced, Inter Miami owner Sir David Beckham said of Casemiro: “He is a winner who has achieved so much in the game and after a wonderful career with Real Madrid and Manchester United I am delighted that he has decided to make Miami his next home.”

In Miami, Casemiro will be joined by former Real and Manchester United teammate Sergio Reguilon and Argentina’s World Cup winners Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul.

This is not the first time Inter Miami has been investigated for transactions.

They were fined $2m in 2021 after breaking MLS rules by signing French midfielder Blaise Matuidi from Juventus last year.

MLS said Matuidi was paid more than allowed, giving the team four “designated players” last season instead of the three allowed. Designated player salaries are not counted in the MLS salary pool.

Known as ‘Beckham’s rule’, it was introduced when the former England captain joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.