LA Galaxy's general manager Will Kuntz has said Brazilian midfielder Casemiro told the club he "only wanted to play" for them, just two months before signing for Inter Miami instead. The claim comes as Major League Soccer investigates the circumstances of Casemiro's move to Inter Miami, focusing on whether the league's "discovery rights" rules, which give a specific club first refusal on a player, were properly followed.

Casemiro, 34, joined Lionel Messi at Inter Miami on a free transfer from Manchester United in July, agreeing a deal running to the end of the 2027 MLS season with an option to extend to June 2029. LA Galaxy held Casemiro's discovery rights, but Inter Miami said on announcing the signing that they had acquired these from the Galaxy; the two clubs say they have since reached a settlement over the discovery priority, though terms will only be released once MLS's tampering investigation concludes. Casemiro has said he made clear to the Galaxy that he wanted to join Miami because of his family's love of the city and the chance to play alongside Messi, while Kuntz insists the player had earlier told them the opposite.