Casemiro explains Inter Miami move: wants to play with Messi and win

Brazilian midfielder Casemiro has revealed that the opportunity to play alongside Lionel Messi was the main reason he joined Major League Soccer's Inter Miami. The former Manchester United player called Messi the best footballer of all time and even described him as the 'god of football'.

Casemiro signed with the Miami club as a free agent last week. The deal runs through the end of the 2027 season and includes an option to extend until June 2029. He said that after leaving Manchester United he had several offers, including from Italian clubs, but choosing Miami was an easy decision.

The Brazilian stated that he arrived to play with the greatest player in history and wanted to enjoy the opportunity and help him keep winning. Casemiro also noted that Messi is a winner and that he himself is a player who wants to fight for trophies.

During nine seasons at Real Madrid, Casemiro regularly faced Messi, who played for Barcelona. The Brazilian admitted that the Argentine was one of the toughest opponents in his career. He recalled that he could never stop Messi alone and always needed help from teammates, and he had dreamed of one day playing alongside him.

Casemiro made his debut for Inter Miami over the weekend, helping the team to a 1-0 win over CF Montreal. Messi, meanwhile, has returned from the World Cup and resumed training with the squad; his return to the pitch is expected in the near future.