Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami will kick off their 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) season with a match against Los Angeles FC (LAFC) on Saturday, Feb. 21, after strengthening their team on multiple fronts in January. However, their pursuit of renowned stars is far from over, with the club reportedly interested in signing one Manchester United player this summer.
Messi’s Inter Miami Plot Free Transfer Signing of Casemiro
According to The Sun, Inter Miami are one of many clubs now keeping tabs on Red Devils midfielder Casemiro. They are believed to be keen to lure the former Real Madrid ace on a Bosman move after the end of the player’s contract in June this year.
Casemiro, on the other hand, could allegedly be interested in joining the reigning MLS Cup winners this summer. The Brazilian, who will turn 34 next Monday, was recently pictured in Miami with his wife Anna Mariana, fuelling speculations of a potential transfer.
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The 82-cap Brazil international, who is likely to be in Brazil’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, is relishing a decent final season at Manchester United. He has scored five goals and recorded two assists in 25 matches across all competitions for the Red Devils this term.
Should Casemiro move to Inter Miami after the ongoing 2025-26 season, he would cement himself as a first-team starter. He would aptly fill the void left by Sergio Busquets’ retirement last December and form a midfield partnership with Rodrigo De Paul.
Meanwhile, the Javier Mascherano-coached outfit is entering the 2026 MLS season with winter arrival David Ayala as its primary defensive midfielder. They roped in the 23-year-old Argentine from MLS side Portland Timbers for a reported fee of $2 million.
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On the other hand, ex-Red Devils star Alan Smith has identified England and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as a potential successor to Casemiro at Manchester United.
“I could see him as a natural replacement. I don’t think Kobbie Mainoo at this stage would be right, because when you’re in that position, you have to be so disciplined to just sit there and people think it’s easy, but it’s not,” Smith told Metro in an interview.
Smith concluded, “Obviously, age-wise, the youthfulness of the team and longevity he fits the bill. You’re looking at someone who’s probably played over 150 games in English football now with Blackburn (Rovers) and Palace, so he understands it.”
Wharton, 22, has produced nine assists in 77 total appearances for Crystal Palace so far.
