Raghav Mehta

Footage Of Casemiro Fawning Over Lionel Messi During San Luis Win Is Too Real

Casemiro, Inter Miami, Lionel Messi

In the prime of their careers, Lionel Messi and Casemiro were bitter rivals. Playing for two of the biggest clubs on the planet, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, the pair were always battling for domestic supremacy in Spain year in, year out.

Another factor likely adding to the animosity between the pair is that Messi is from Argentina, while Casemiro is Brazilian, which makes them arch-enemies on the international stage as well.

Things often got especially heated when both superstars faced off in El Clasico, as their respective positions meant that their personal duel played an important role in the outcome of the match.

Whenever Messi got the better of Casemiro, Barcelona would usually end up winning the game, while Real Madrid’s wins often coincided with superb performances from their midfield enforcer.

Nowadays, however, the pair are playing together, ever since Casemiro confirmed his move from Manchester United to Inter Miami.

Looking at images and videos of the pair from Miami’s most recent win against Liga MX outfit Atletico San Luis in their first fixture of this season’s Leagues Cup, the pair look like long lost friends, and any traces of the bitter rivalry from the past seems to be firmly in the rear view mirror.

In one of the clips, he is spotted embracing Messi while the team was warming up before the game. Despite spending so many years on opposite sides of one of football’s rivalry, Casemiro’s affection for Messi is clear for all to see.

Another video showcases Casemiro celebrating with Messi’s goal with him. After spending his prime years trying desperately to man mark the eight-time Ballon D’Or winner, the Brazilian now looks to be relieved more than anything, to finally be on the same team with the Argentine great.

Along with Messi and Casemiro, other big-name players such as Luis Suarez, Rodrigo De Paul and Sergio Reguillon are also on Inter Miami’s roster, while two more Barça legends – Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, were part of the squad up until last season.

If not already apparent by the aforementioned photos and videos, playing with Lionel Messi was one of the biggest factors that convinced Casemiro to ultimately sign with Inter Miami.

Speaking to reporters shortly after signing with the MLS club, the Brazilian midfielder revealed that he had offers from several other teams, and he could have even continued in Europe, but winning titles with “the best player of all time” was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

“For me, without a doubt, I am coming only to play with the best player of all time,” Casemiro said. “I want to enjoy, I want to help him to keep winning because he is a winner. I am where I want to be in MLS. I left United as a free agent, I had options in Italy, other teams in different places, but I am where I want to be.

“I want to enjoy being with him, helping him win and making him bigger. He’s one of, if not the god of football and I want to help. The amount of problems Messi gave me, of course I dreamed of playing with him.”

By moving to Miami and sharing the field with Lionel Messi, Casemiro has now become one of the lucky few players to have played with each of the generation’s biggest talents, after already playing with Cristiano Ronaldo during his Real Madrid days and sharing the dressing room with Neymar Jr. during national team duty with Brazil.

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