Casemiro says he dreamed of playing with Messi at Inter Miami

Casemiro was officially presented as an Inter Miami player on Thursday, and the Brazilian midfielder made clear that Lionel Messi was a major reason for his move. "Messi is the God of football," he said, adding that he had dreamed of playing alongside the Argentine for years. Source: Infobae

The dream

Casemiro, who spent nearly a decade at Real Madrid facing Messi's Barcelona, admitted he never managed to stop the Argentine on the pitch. "I dreamed every day of being with him, playing with him. I know it's impossible to stop him, I never managed to stop him, I always needed my teammates' help," he said during the press conference. Source: La Vanguardia He also noted that after just two training sessions with Messi, it was already clear that stopping him remains impossible. Source: Milenio

Why Miami

Casemiro, who left Manchester United as a free agent, said he had many options in Europe but was clear about his destination. "I had Italy, many teams where to play, and I am where I want to be," he explained. Source: Infobae He also revealed that he spoke with several players, including compatriot Kaká, before deciding on Inter Miami. Source: EFE via Infobae

The reaction

Club owner Jorge Mas defended the signing amid an MLS investigation into possible "manipulation" of the discovery process. "We complied with the rules to the letter," Mas said, denying any wrongdoing. Source: Milenio Casemiro debuted as a starter in a 1-0 win over Montreal, a match in which Messi rested. Source: Milenio