For years Casemiro's job was to stop Lionel Messi. Now, as he put it at his official Inter Miami presentation this week, he finally gets to enjoy him instead.
"I always wanted to be with the best, I dreamed every day of being with him and playing with him," the Brazilian midfielder said of Messi, according to ONE. "Every player dreams of playing with one of the best of all time."
Casemiro went further in describing the Argentine, who has spent the past three seasons transforming Inter Miami into MLS champions. "He's one of the gods, if not the god of football," he said, adding that he wants to "enjoy being with him, help him win, make him even greater."
The 34-year-old joined Inter Miami as a free agent after his Manchester United contract expired at the end of last season, closing out 14 years in Europe with Real Madrid, Porto and United that brought 21 trophies, including five Champions League titles.
It is a strange turn for a player who spent much of his career on the opposite side of the Messi story. Casemiro faced him repeatedly in El Clasico for Real Madrid against Barcelona, and again as Brazil met Argentina in World Cup qualifying and Copa America football, rarely with much joy.
"The amount of problems Messi gave me, of course I dreamed of playing with him," Casemiro said. "I could never stop him, I always needed help from my teammates."
Before signing, Casemiro said he sought advice from fellow Brazilian Kaká, who knows the league from his years at Orlando City, and he made clear the move to Florida was his first choice despite interest elsewhere. "I had many options, I had offers in Italy, I had many teams reaching out, but I am exactly where I want to be," he said.
He has already featured for his new club, playing the full 90 minutes as Inter Miami beat CF Montreal 1-0 last weekend in his MLS debut. The signing arrives with the midfield depth Inter Miami have lacked while leaning heavily on Messi's attacking output, and Casemiro's stated aim now is straightforward: help the Argentine keep winning.
