Casemiro’s Miami home debut derailed by two costly moments as Messi reacts

Casemiro endured a disastrous first home appearance for Inter Miami after giving the ball away under no pressure before turning a dangerous cross into his own net against Columbus Crew.

The 34-year-old Brazil midfielder joined Lionel Messi’s side only last week as a free agent, following his departure from Manchester United and Old Trafford.

He was brought into the starting line-up just days after arriving and completed the full 90 minutes as Inter Miami beat Montreal 1-0 in his first appearance for the club.

However, his first match at Inter Miami’s home ground quickly became a night to forget. The key moment came after 33 minutes, with the hosts already leading 1-0 thanks to a goal from Luis Suarez.

Casemiro inexplicably surrendered possession without being placed under pressure from an opponent. Columbus Crew then sent a powerful cross into the penalty area, which the Brazilian inadvertently diverted into his own goal.

The midfielder looked visibly frustrated after the error, while his new team-mate Messi appeared far from pleased by what had unfolded. Television cameras showed the Argentina captain frowning on the substitutes’ bench shortly after Casemiro’s mistake.

The incident left Inter Miami supporters stunned as they discussed the midfielder’s difficult home debut on X.

One fan wrote: “You ask how Casemiro is getting on in MLS… well, he gave the ball to the opponent without any pressure, allowing them to launch a counter-attack, then he finished the counter-attack himself with an own goal. His face said it all.”

Another posted: “The man regrets his decision after realising he should have stayed at Manchester United.”

A third supporter added: “He is not the same anymore. How can your first goal be an own goal?”

A fourth commented: “Manchester United spirits are haunting you wherever you go.”

Casemiro’s arrival at Inter Miami followed a spell at Manchester United, where he had previously established himself as an experienced defensive midfielder after leaving Real Madrid. His move to the MLS side was completed last week, making the match against Columbus Crew his first home outing for the club.

The difficult opening came despite his encouraging first match, when he helped Inter Miami secure a narrow victory over Montreal by playing the entire game. This time, however, his contribution was defined by two errors in the space of a few moments: the initial loss of possession and the own goal that followed.

Messi’s reaction from the bench added to the scrutiny surrounding the incident, while supporters quickly turned the moment into a topic of debate online. Casemiro’s first home appearance had begun with his new side in front, but his double mistake gave the occasion an unwanted focus.