Smile, honey, we're swapping Manchester for Miami

Casemiro appears to be heading toward the next chapter of his career - and it could see him lining up alongside Lionel Messi in Miami, The Athletic reports on Wednesday night.

Sources close to the negotiations say Inter Miami has emerged as the Brazilian midfielder's preferred destination after leaving Manchester United, with talks between both sides already advancing.

The move is not straightforward, though.

Casemiro torn – Ronaldo urges him to skip Messi and join his project

Under MLS regulations, LA Galaxy currently owns Casemiro's 'discovery rights' - a league mechanism designed to prevent multiple clubs from negotiating with the same player at once. The Galaxy had reportedly spent months trying to convince the former Real Madrid star to move to Los Angeles, including presenting multiple contract offers.

Despite that, Casemiro's focus now seems firmly set on South Florida.

MLS insiders expect the dispute to eventually be resolved through compensation, much like the situation involving Marco Reus two years ago, when the Galaxy paid Charlotte for his rights before completing the deal.

Inter wants a Man United gift – Casemiro for free

Financially, Miami will also need creativity to make the transfer happen.

The club currently has no available Designated Player slot, meaning Casemiro would initially need to arrive on a reduced salary structure before potentially being elevated to DP status later down the line. Miami used a similar formula when signing Jordi Alba in 2023.

And while Casemiro is now 34, he is far from arriving in MLS as a fading superstar.

The Brazilian enjoyed a major resurgence this season at Manchester United, scoring nine goals and playing a crucial role in the club securing a return to the Champions League. He also remains an important figure for Brazil and was included in Carlo Ancelotti's squad for the upcoming World Cup.

He has won five Champions League titles, multiple league crowns in Spain and made 84 appearances for Brazil.

For Inter Miami, whose season has become increasingly turbulent following the departure of head coach Javier Mascherano, Casemiro's arrival would not just be another headline signing.