The whispers around Casemiro's future are getting louder, and honestly, it’s not a huge surprise. Manchester United's midfield maestro, a five-time Champions League winner, has seen his stock dip a bit this season at Old Trafford. After a stellar debut campaign where he bagged seven goals and six assists across all competitions, this year has been a different story. He's dealt with hamstring issues, missing 17 games, and the eye test confirms he's lost a step or two. United shelled out £60 million for him in August 2022, and with his contract running until 2026, they'll be keen to recoup some of that investment.
Now, we're hearing Inter Miami, LA Galaxy, and Al Ittihad are all sniffing around. This isn't just about a player looking for a new challenge; it's about three distinct paths for a veteran midfielder.
Let's talk MLS. Inter Miami, of course, has become the retirement home for Barcelona legends. Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba – the band's back together. Adding Casemiro would reunite him with Busquets, a familiar foe from El Clásico days, and give Miami a truly terrifying midfield. Imagine the possession numbers. Miami's already top of the Eastern Conference with 27 points from 13 games, largely thanks to Messi's 10 goals and 12 assists. They've shown they're willing to pay for star power, and Casemiro would certainly fit that bill. He'd instantly become one of the league's highest earners, likely north of $10 million annually, and the marketing opportunities are endless.
Then there's the LA Galaxy. They're sitting third in the Western Conference with 22 points, featuring a solid attack led by Dejan Joveljic's six goals. The Galaxy have always been a big-spending club, historically signing David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimović. They need a midfield anchor, someone who can dictate play and protect the back four. Casemiro could be that guy. The issue for both MLS clubs, though, is the Designated Player rule. Miami already has Messi, Busquets, and Luis Suárez as DPs. The Galaxy has Riqui Puig, Gabriel Pec, and Joseph Paintsil. To bring in Casemiro, one of those DPs would have to go, or they'd need to get creative with a U22 Initiative slot, which seems unlikely for a player of Casemiro's age and stature.
Al Ittihad is the other suitor, and this one makes a lot of sense from a financial perspective. The Saudi Pro League has already lured Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, and Fabinho to Al Ittihad alone. They're not shy about offering astronomical wages. Casemiro, at 32, could command a salary far exceeding anything MLS could offer, potentially in the $20-30 million range. The league is growing, the facilities are improving, and the competition, while not Premier League level, is getting better. He'd reunite with Benzema, his former Real Madrid teammate, and instantly become one of the league's biggest names.
Here's my hot take: Casemiro to Al Ittihad is the most probable outcome. While the allure of Miami and playing with Messi is strong, the financial package from Saudi Arabia will be too good to refuse for both Casemiro and Manchester United. United needs to offload his wages and get some transfer fee back to fund their own rebuild. The Saudi clubs have shown they're willing to pay premium prices for aging stars.
My bold prediction? Casemiro will be holding up an Al Ittihad scarf before the end of the summer transfer window, with a reported transfer fee around £25 million heading back to Manchester.