Inter Miami midfielder Casemiro has revealed that the primary reason he joined the Major League Soccer (MLS) club was to play alongside his new captain, Lionel Messi.

The 34-year-old Brazilian, who joined Inter Miami as a free agent after leaving Manchester United at the end of last season, made his MLS debut in a 1-0 win over CF Montreal last weekend.

At his introductory press conference on Thursday, Casemiro made it clear that the opportunity to share the pitch with the Argentine legend was the decisive factor in his choice.

“For me, without a doubt, I am coming only to play with the best player of all time,” Casemiro told reporters. “I want to enjoy it, I want to help him to keep winning, because he is a winner”.

The Brazilian emphasized that despite having other options, his decision was driven by a desire to play alongside Messi. “I am where I want to be in MLS. I left Manchester United as a free agent, I had options in Italy, other teams in different places, but I am where I want to be”.

Casemiro, who spent years trying to stop Messi as a rival at Real Madrid, now sees his mission as the complete opposite. “The amount of problems Messi gave me, of course I dreamed of playing with him,” Casemiro said. “I always wanted to play with the best. … I am very happy that I am now with him, and I want to keep winning with him”.

He described Messi in the highest possible terms, calling him “one of, if not the God of football”. “I want to enjoy being with him, helping him win and making him even bigger,” Casemiro added.