Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Both footballing legends fighting to sign United superstar – report

Further twists and turns are expected regarding the future of Casemiro. The Brazilian midfielder has already announced that he will be leaving Manchester United when his current contract expires. Given his impressive resurgence under Michael Carrick, both the United fanbase and the squad have been urging the club to reconsider its decision and retain the Brazilian for one more year. However, INEOS have no intention of paying the former Real Madrid superstar his substantial wages for another season, and the Brazil international is also eager to embark on a new adventure. There is interest from Italy as well as from Brazil, but the 34-year-old is likely to opt for the most lucrative offer available. Casemiro in demand With Saudi Pro League sides and Major League Soccer clubs pursuing his signature, it almost seems inevitable that the five-time Champions League winner will not be playing in Europe any longer. As previously reported by The Peoples Person, the defensive midfielder has been offered the opportunity to join Inter Miami, which is owned by United legend David Beckham. He has already visited the city, and should a move materialise, Casemiro would be reunited with his former Barcelona arch-rival Lionel Messi. According to Marca, his former Real Madrid and United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo is keen to prevent this from happening, and is urging his club, Al-Nassr, to try to win the race for Casemiro’s signature. CR7 vs Lionel Messi again “After the official announcement of Casemiro confirming his departure from Manchester United at the end of the season, a real battle of titans has broken out to secure the services of the experienced midfielder. “Cristiano Ronaldo, the current talisman of Arab football, has taken the initiative to try to convince his former Real Madrid and Manchester United teammate to join his project in Saudi Arabia. “For the Brazilian, the Saudi offer represents a high-impact economic opportunity, similar to the powerful contracts he has handled in the Premier League, as well as the possibility of reuniting with a historic partner on the field. However, Messi also wants him on his team. “Inter Miami, the club managed by David Beckham, has Casemiro at the top of its list of priorities for after the 2026 World Cup. The strategy of the pink team is clear: the Brazilian will fill the void left by Sergio Busquets in midfield.” Who would have thought that another Cristiano Ronaldo versus Lionel Messi battle would break out, this time off the pitch in the race to sign a United superstar? Strange times indeed! Feature image Stu Forster via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25