Wayne Rooney Offers Warning for Lionel Messi Ahead of MLS Move

The former Manchester United star knows what it’s like to play in the U.S. league.

If anybody knows what it’s like to play in MLS after starring in Europe, it’s Wayne Rooney. The former Manchester United standout broke through in the English Premier League as a teenager with Everton in 2002, then anchored United for nearly 400 appearances from ’04 to ’17 before coming to play for D.C. United in ’18.

So with Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi nearing his debut for Inter Miami CF, the English legend had some words of wisdom to pass along: Don’t expect success to come easy.

Rooney offered his perspective over the weekend on how big of an adjustment and challenge playing in MLS can be for someone who’s never done it before—even someone as accomplished as Messi.

“He won’t find it easy here,” Rooney said in an interview with The Times of London. “It sounds mad, but players who come in find it’s a tough league. The traveling, the different conditions in different cities, and there’s a lot of energy and intensity on the pitch.”

Rooney last took the pitch as a player-manager for Derby County, one year after playing for D.C. United. He was hired as D.C. United’s manager last July. While the 36-year-old Messi’s arrival to the U.S. has created quite a buzz throughout the sport, Rooney believes that he will help increase the popularity of the sport in America.

“Americans love winners,” Rooney said. “Above all, they want to see skill and to be entertained, and Messi brings all that.”