Major League Soccer said it was investigating allegations of interference by Inter Miami after the club signed Brazilian midfielder Casemiro.
Miami announced on Wednesday that they had signed the 34-year-old, who left Manchester United at the end of last season, to a contract that runs until the end of the 2027 MLS campaign with an option to extend until June 2029.
But moments later, MLS released a statement saying it was “considering a charge of tampering” against the club.
“The League is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is completed,” the company added.
“Although Inter Miami and LA Galaxy have reached an agreement on opening priority (first rights) to sign Casemiro, the terms will be published once the tampering investigation is completed.”
The investigation concerns Casemiro’s discovery rights, an MLS rule that gives a given club the right of first refusal on a player if he wants to join.
A club can have up to five players on its opening list at any time and can add or remove players.
LA Galaxy held the rights to Casemiro, but when announcing the player’s signing, Inter Miami said they had acquired the rights from the Galaxy.
In a statement, the Los Angeles Galaxy said: “The Los Angeles Galaxy and Inter Miami have reached an agreement to prioritize Casemiro’s contract opening and terms will be released following the conclusion of the tampering investigation currently underway within Major League Soccer.”
Casemiro announced in January that he would leave Old Trafford at the end of the 2026/27 season after a mutual decision not to renew his contract.
He won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid before moving to United in 2022, who played for Brazil as they reached the last 16 of this summer’s World Cup.
“What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is to win and keep growing,” he said.
Casemiro made 160 appearances for United, scoring 26 goals and providing 14 assists, winning one EFL Cup and one FA Cup.
Following Casemiro’s departure, United have prioritized strengthening their midfield this window, signing Andrei Santos for £50m from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m.
Before the investigation was announced, Inter Miami co-owner Sir David Beckham said of Casemiro: “He is a winner who has achieved so much in the game and after such an incredible career at Real Madrid and Manchester United, I am delighted that he has decided to make Miami his next home.”
In Miami, Casemiro is set to join former Real and Manchester United teammate Sergio Reguilon, as well as Argentina’s World Cup finalists Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul.
This is not the first time Inter Miami has come under investigation for transfer deals.
They were fined $2 million in 2021 for breaking MLS rules by signing France midfielder Blaise Matuidi from Juventus last year.
MLS said Matuidi was paid more than allowed, resulting in the team having four “designated players” last season rather than the allowed three. The salaries of designated players do not count toward the MLS salary cap.
Known as the Beckham Rule, the rule was introduced when the former England captain joined LA Galaxy in 2007.