Casemiro was formally unveiled as an Inter Miami signing in the early hours of Friday morning, following the end of his contract with Manchester United, and he made no secret that one of the biggest factors behind his decision was the chance to share a locker room with Lionel Messi.
The former FC Porto player once played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, but when asked about his new Argentine teammate, Casemiro was full of praise, saying every player dreams of playing alongside the greatest of all time, and that for him, sharing the pitch with one of the best ever genuinely feels like living a dream.
He said he simply wants to enjoy the experience and help Messi keep winning, describing him as a natural winner and adding that he too wants to compete and win, noting how thin the line between victory and defeat can be, but that competing is what drives him. He made clear that part of his motivation for joining was specifically to support and help Messi.
Casemiro also expressed gratitude for how everything came together, saying he’s exactly where he wants to be in MLS. He noted that after leaving Manchester United as a free agent, he had plenty of other options, including offers in Italy, but chose this path instead, crediting his family for fully supporting the decision.
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He said he’s exactly where he wants to be, playing alongside one of the best in the world, and that his goal is to enjoy the experience, help Messi keep winning, and help elevate him further, calling him one of football’s gods, if not the god of football himself, and saying he intends to keep enjoying moments like this at his side.
Casemiro also shared his early impressions of Messi after just a couple of days around him, admitting he was genuinely surprised. He recalled having played against Messi in the past and knowing firsthand how impossible he was to stop, but said that even in just two days together, Messi’s hunger to keep improving and keep winning left a strong impression on him.
He said he’s thoroughly enjoying the experience and, now being on Messi’s side rather than facing him, wants to keep savoring the moment, finishing the thought with a smile.
