D.C. United Manager Wayne Rooney claims former Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lionel Messi would not find it easy in Major League Soccer after he was unveiled as a new Inter Miami player on June 16, 2023.
In a recent Interview, the former Manchester United striker Rooney claimed many big-name players came to Major League Soccer and failed to live up to expectations; Lionel Messi’s case would not be exceptional.
Wayne Rooney said, “Everything is set for him. Lionel Messi got all his teammates over! Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have signed for Inter Miami, and maybe Andres Iniesta will join them later. Luis Suarez too.
“Lionel Messi has a coach (Inter Miami manager Tata Martino) he likes and trusts. It is huge, especially with what is going on in Saudi Arabia, for the MLS to attract Lionel Messi.”
“Lionel Messi would not find it easy here. It sounds mad, but players who come in find it a tough league. The traveling, the different conditions in different cities, and there is a lot of energy and Intensity on the pitch.”
When Rooney left Manchester United to join D.C. United, he played 52 matches for the American club from 2018–2020, scoring 25 goals and creating 14 assists in all competitions before returning as a manager last season.
Lionel Messi will make his club debut against Mexican side Cruz Azul on July 21, 2023. Lionel Messi has been tipped to help Inter Miami stop their miserable form in the League.
Inter Miami are currently placed at the bottom of the 29-team Major Soccer league.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is arguably the greatest player of all time, and he has shown at the age of 36 that he can play at the highest level.
Wayne Rooney Opens up about How He Used Jesse Lingard to potentially make money for DC United.
Rooney has revealed how he used a “crazy MLS rule” and Jesse Lingard to make potential money for his current club, D.C. United.
The manager explained how he put his former teammate on the discovery list. This means DC United will make a lot of money if the former Manchester United winger joins the club or ends up with a rival team.
Every soccer club in Major League Soccer can name up to seven players on their discovery list. Although it must be made up of players from outside the MLS.
In the event a club signs a player on another team’s discovery list, they must pay the other club a fee.
For Instance, if Wayne Rooney puts Erling Haaland on the D.C. United discovery list and the player moves to Inter Miami in the future, Inter Miami will have to pay Manchester City and D.C. United for discovering him.
Rooney said ”You don’t know about “discovery” players? OK, take Erling Haaland.
‘We could put Haaland on our “Discovery List” and it means that if he ever came to the MLS but let’s say wanted to play for one of the LA teams and not us, the LA team would have to pay Man City – and us.
Because we’ve “discovered” him! It’s crazy. But if you’re clever, you can make money. Last year when Jesse Lingard signed for a year with Nottingham Forest we put him on our Discovery List
“Because you thought there’s every chance that after a year at Forest he’ll want to come to the US and that would mean we could sign him or get money for him.”
Top Players Who Went to MLS
1. David Beckham: He joined the LA Galaxy in 2007. His move to the MLS shocked a lot of football fans all over the World.
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic: After playing for Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Barcelona, and Inter Milan, Ibrahimovic moved to LA Galaxy, where he dominated the league.
3. Thierry Henry: The winger played for Barcelona before optioning to move to the New York Red Bulls. Upon his arrival, the club won the 2013 Supporter’s Shield.
