Messi won’t find it easy in MLS - Wayne Rooney
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 16 Jul 2023 19:17 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United legend and D.C United manager Wayne Rooney has warned new Inter Miami signing Lionel Messi that he won’t find it easy in Major League Soccer.
Messi signed for Inter Miami on a free transfer this summer, turning down a return to Barcelona as well as a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
Most expect the Barcelona and Argentine legend to take the United States by storm, but Rooney is not so sure.
READ MORE: Lionel Messi at Inter Miami: Goals, assists, results & fixtures in 2023
What did Rooney say about Messi?
"Everything is set for him. He’s got all his mates over! [Sergio] Busquets and Jordi Alba have signed for Inter Miami and maybe [Andrés] Iniesta will join them. Luis Suarez, too,” Rooney told The Times.
“Messi has a coach [Inter Miami manager Tata Martino] he likes and trusts. It’s huge, especially with what’s going on in Saudi, for the MLS to attract Messi.
READ MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals
“He won’t find it easy here. It sounds mad, but players who come in find it’s a tough league. The travelling, the different conditions in different cities, and there’s a lot of energy and intensity on the pitch.
“Americans love winners. Above all, they want to see skill and to be entertained, and Messi brings all that."
Messi is set to make his Inter Miami debut next Friday against Mexican side Cruz Azul at the DRV PNK Stadium.
The 36-year-old rejected a move to Al-Hilal in order to join Inter Miami.
It was reported that Al-Hilal offered Messi a contract in the region of €400-600 million a year but he only wanted Miami.
