Inter Miami Denies Wrongdoing In Casemiro Transfer
Inter Miami has denied violating MLS rules during the signing of Casemiro. Jorge Mas insisted the club followed the league's established procedures before negotiating with the Brazilian midfielder.
Inter Miami has responded to reports suggesting the club committed irregularities in the signing of Casemiro. During the Brazilian midfielder's official presentation, co-owner Jorge Mas stated that the club fully complied with the Major League Soccer (MLS) regulations governing negotiations with international players.
The comments come after the league opened an investigation into alleged unauthorized contact between Inter Miami and the former Real Madrid midfielder following a complaint filed by LA Galaxy.
Jorge Mas Defends The Negotiation Process
According to Jorge Mas, Inter Miami first secured the necessary authorization to negotiate with Casemiro, as the player's discovery rights were held by LA Galaxy. Under MLS rules, the discovery rights system gives clubs exclusive priority to negotiate with certain international players.
Mas explained that the club first consulted the league to determine which franchise owned Casemiro's discovery rights, since the list is not publicly available to teams. Once it was confirmed that LA Galaxy held those rights, the two clubs reached an agreement that allowed Inter Miami to negotiate legally with the Brazilian star.
The executive also firmly denied that the club or its representatives had any contact with Casemiro before obtaining the proper authorization, rejecting the allegations that prompted the league's investigation.
MLS Investigation Continues As Casemiro Makes His Debut
According to ESPN, LA Galaxy accused Inter Miami of contacting Casemiro before completing the required process, leading MLS to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the transfer.
During his remarks, Jorge Mas also criticized the league's discovery rights system, arguing that it complicates player acquisitions and limits transactions between clubs, despite its intended purpose of preventing teams from competing directly for the same player.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Inter Miami officially announced Casemiro's signing last week on a contract that runs through May 2027, with an option to extend the deal through the end of the 2029 season.
The Brazilian midfielder has already made his debut for Inter Miami, helping the club earn a victory over CF Montréal last weekend as he began a new chapter of his career in MLS.
