Wayne Rooney sends warning to Lionel Messi about MLS

Man Utd legend and current DC United manager Wayne Rooney has warned Lionel Messi about how ‘tough’ a league MLS is.

Inter Miami recently confirmed the signing of Lionel Messi following the expiration of his two-year contract at Paris Saint-Germain. Messi has also been joined by fellow Barcelona icon Sergio Busquets, who officially put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the club on Sunday.

The legendary pair, however, join a club who currently at the foot of the MLS Eastern Conference standings – 12 points adrift of the play-off spots.

Sitting just in the play-off berths is Rooney’s DC United, who set in ninth in the standings and, in an interview with The Times, the England legend discussed the strength of MLS and warned Messi that it is a difficult league to succeed in:

“The MLS is already a very good league, there are a lot of players here who people [in Europe] won’t know about, who could play in the Premier League. The Apple deal was huge and the other day the two LA teams played at the Rose Bowl.

“Everything is set for him,” Rooney says. “He’s got all his mates over. [Sergio] Busquets and Jordi Alba have signed for Inter Miami and maybe [Andres] Iniesta will join them. Luis Suarez too. Messi has a coach [Inter Miami manager Tata Martino] he likes and trusts.

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“It’s huge, especially with what’s going on in Saudi, for the MLS to attract Messi.

“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.”

Messi is expected to make his maiden MLS appearance on July 21 in Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup game against Cruz Azul.