Brazilian midfielder Casemiro made his debut for Inter Miami on Saturday despite an ongoing Major League Soccer investigation into how the club signed him. The former Manchester United player started and played the full 90 minutes as Miami defeated Montreal 1-0 in Canada.
MLS announced last week that it was looking into a tampering allegation connected to Casemiro's move to the United States club. The league also said it would withhold details of a financial settlement between Inter Miami and the LA Galaxy over what are called discovery rights until the review is complete. Under MLS rules, clubs must negotiate discovery rights with any team that previously listed a player before signing him outside the draft or free agency. The Galaxy had held those rights to Casemiro before he chose to join Miami.
The match was settled in the 81st minute by a Luis Suarez penalty. The spot kick was awarded after German Berterame collided heads with Montreal defender Efrain Morales inside the box. Berterame was knocked unconscious and removed from the field in an ambulance. Suarez converted with a soft shot past goalkeeper Sebastian Breza.
The goal was Suarez's ninth of the season and his sixth in the last three matches, giving Inter Miami their sixth consecutive MLS victory. Inter Miami interim coach Guillermo Hoyos confirmed after the match that Berterame had regained consciousness. "The blow was very strong, but he is recovering," Hoyos said.
Lionel Messi did not play. He has been resting since Argentina's run to the World Cup final, according to Al Jazeera, which reported the match result and the details surrounding Casemiro's debut.
