Casemiro calls Messi a football Deus on Inter Miami debut

Brazilian midfielder Casemiro was officially presented on Thursday as a new signing for Inter Miami, and in his first press conference he praised Lionel Messi, calling him the “Deus do futebol”. He said he chose to move to the United States (Estados Unidos) to play alongside the Argentine star.

“Todo mundo knows I left Manchester United on a free transfer and had many options, including Italy (Itália) and several clubs,” Casemiro said. The quote highlighted his freedom to decide his next destination after departing the English side.

He added, “I am where I want to be, to play with the best. I want to enjoy being with him (Messi), help him win, make him greater. He is one of the gods, if not the God of football, and I want to keep winning with him.”

The 34‑year‑old made his Inter Miami debut on Saturday, starting in a 1‑0 MLS victory over Montreal. The appearance marked his first competitive match for the club.

Messi has not yet taken the field with Casemiro; the Argentine returned to training on Wednesday after ten days off. Their partnership on the pitch remains a future prospect.

Casemiro previously faced Messi in Spain between 2013 and 2021 while at Real Madrid, with a brief loan to Porto in the 2014/15 season, as Messi starred for Barcelona. Their rivalry spanned several seasons in La Liga.

During that period Casemiro won the UEFA Champions League four times (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018) compared with Messi’s single triumph in 2015, and each claimed three domestic league titles. The contrast underscored their respective successes.

Before the interview, Casemiro was introduced to fans at Inter Miami’s stadium in a ceremony that also featured his family. The event celebrated his arrival and highlighted the personal significance of the move.