Inter Miami have officially completed the free transfer of former Real Madrid and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro.

The 34-year-old Brazil international has put pen to paper on a contract running until the end of the 2027 sprint season, with an option to extend through June 2029.

He joins a star-studded squad in Florida that already features Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Rodrigo De Paul.

However, the high-profile arrival has been immediately overshadowed by controversy.

Major League Soccer (MLS) has officially launched a tampering investigation into Inter Miami following a complaint filed by the LA Galaxy.

The controversy

At the center of the probe is MLS’s unique Discovery Rights system, which allows clubs to claim priority negotiation rights for players entering the league by placing them on a restricted list.

The LA Galaxy held the initial discovery priority rights for Casemiro, meaning Inter Miami were required to officially acquire those rights before entering into any direct negotiations with the player.

Allegations surfaced that Inter Miami bypassed proper protocol by engaging in unauthorized contact with the Brazilian midfielder prior to settling the rights with Los Angeles.

While Inter Miami and the LA Galaxy managed to reach a formal settlement regarding the transfer of the discovery priority to allow the deal to go through, the league’s disciplinary review remains active.

“Major League Soccer is reviewing a tampering allegation against Inter Miami CF,” the league said in an official statement adding that, “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.”