'Not going to be easy for him': Rooney warns Messi ahead of MLS debut | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
July 11, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025
'Not going to be easy for him': Rooney warns Messi ahead of MLS debut

Sports

Hindustan Times
25 June, 2023, 06:50 pm
Last modified: 25 June, 2023, 06:53 pm

Related News

  • Messi brace buoys Miami in 2-1 MLS victory over New England
  • ‘They came for Messi’: A losing score, a lasting legend
  • Ruthless PSG cruise past Inter Miami 4-0 to reach Club World Cup quarters
  • Master meets maestro as Luis Enrique prepares PSG for Messi challenge
  • Past meets present as PSG face Messi's Inter Miami at Club World Cup

'Not going to be easy for him': Rooney warns Messi ahead of MLS debut

“The league's a difficult league and I don't think he's going to come over here and absolutely tear it up immediately,” continued Manchester United’s all-time top goalscorer.

Hindustan Times
25 June, 2023, 06:50 pm
Last modified: 25 June, 2023, 06:53 pm
Photo: Twitter
Photo: Twitter

Wayne Rooney was the latest on a long list of talents from England's "Golden Generation" to cross the Atlantic and join an MLS team when he joined the Washington DC-based DC United in 2018 for a season-long spell. Rooney enjoyed a fruitful season in the United States, making some remarkable highlights even 15 years into his professional career. Rooney is now back at DC United as the manager, having gained experience at Derby County in a hybrid player-manager role, and gaining greater exposure in the American capital.

The MLS has been in the news lately following Lionel Messi's sensational move to Inter Miami, their most recent star signing after having the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic on board in recent years. Rooney spoke to beIN Sports about the prospect of Messi, still amongst the finest in the world and certainly the best ever player to join the MLS, playing against his DC United team.

"It'd be nice if we were his first opponents for DC fans to see him up close and for us to challenge ourselves against him. One thing I will say - it's not going to be easy for him," said Rooney, perhaps as a caution having been a former player in the league. Rooney did score 23 times in 48 appearances for his team but was joining them during the last legs of his playing career.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Messi is fresh off a World Cup victory in which he unsurprisingly played an instrumental part.

"The league's a difficult league and I don't think he's going to come over here and absolutely tear it up immediately," continued Manchester United's all-time top goalscorer.

"He'll have to adapt because it's a bit different, it won't be an easy ride for him." Messi would be one of the older players in a league which is trying to shed its reputation of being a payday for experienced players from Europe, instead trying to become a breeding ground for young and high-potential talent.

Rooney spoke of the impact having someone of Messi's caliber playing in the US could have in a cultural sense on the league and the country. "I think it's great, to bring Messi into the league. We've all seen, over the years, the impact of David Beckham coming in, Zlatan coming in. Different players from overseas."

Beckham was the first mega-star signing for the MLS when he joined LA Galaxy, and is now owner of Inter Miami. Messi has claimed Beckham was a big element of his joining the Miami team.

"To get Messi in the league, arguably the greatest player of all time, and still - he's a little bit older - but not long ago he won the World Cup almost single handed. It's going to be great for the league, for Miami," concluded Rooney. Argentinian-born Messi was raised in Barcelona, and so should feel right at home in a city which has a large Spanish-speaking population — perhaps a major reason he chose South Beach over Saudi Arabia following his stint with Paris Saint-Germain.

Inter Miami currently sit bottom of the Eastern Conference in the MLS, but Messi will no doubt have a transformative effect on the team managed by his compatriot Javier Morales. Rooney's DC meanwhile sit on the fringes of the playoff race, and could make the playoff tournament with a strong finish to the season. The two teams are slated to face off on 9th July in Washington's Audi Field, where their fans will get a special look at one of football's greatest ever in the flesh.

Football

Lionel Messi / Wayne Rooney / mls / inter miami

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Abul Barkat at Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court on 11 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Economist Abul Barkat sent to jail in Tk297cr embezzlement case
  • BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed. Photo: Collected
    No scope for electoral alliance with Jamaat, door not closed for NCP: BNP's Salahuddin
  • Sketch: TBS
    No peace through concession — only struggle secures tomorrow

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS
    SSC, equivalent results: Pass rate drops to 68.45%, GPA-5 also declines
  • In terms of stream of education, girls maintained their excellence as well. Photo: TBS
    SSC 2025: Girls dominate boys by over 5%
  • Govt vehicle purchase, foreign trip, new building construction banned: Finance ministry
    Govt vehicle purchase, foreign trip, new building construction banned: Finance ministry
  • Students sit for SSC exam at Motijheel Girls' High School on 10 April 2025. Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS
    SSC exam results out: Here's how you can check online and via SMS
  • The overall pass rate across all boards this year, 68.45%, is significantly lower than last year's. Photo: Focus Bangla
    SSC 2025: Rajshahi board records highest pass rate, Barishal lowest
  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    35% tariff: Bangladesh, US 'agree on most issues' as first day of talks ends

Related News

  • Messi brace buoys Miami in 2-1 MLS victory over New England
  • ‘They came for Messi’: A losing score, a lasting legend
  • Ruthless PSG cruise past Inter Miami 4-0 to reach Club World Cup quarters
  • Master meets maestro as Luis Enrique prepares PSG for Messi challenge
  • Past meets present as PSG face Messi's Inter Miami at Club World Cup

Features

Photo: Collected/BBC

What Hitler’s tariff policy misfire can teach the modern world

21h | The Big Picture
Illustration: TBS

Behind closed doors: Why women in Bangladesh stay in abusive marriages

1d | Panorama
Purbachl’s 144-acre Sal forest is an essential part of the area’s biodiversity. Within it, 128 species of plants and 74 species of animals — many of them endangered — have been identified. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS

A forest saved: Inside the restoration of Purbachal's last Sal grove

1d | Panorama
Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS

11 July 2024: Riot vehicles, water cannons hit the streets as police crack down on protesters

17h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Shocking science: why birds stay safe on electricity lines

Shocking science: why birds stay safe on electricity lines

15m | TBS Stories
Threat of 35 percent tariff on Canadian goods

Threat of 35 percent tariff on Canadian goods

1h | TBS World
Israel ready to strike back if Iran threatens: Katz

Israel ready to strike back if Iran threatens: Katz

3h | TBS World
India is strengthening ties with Israel

India is strengthening ties with Israel

4h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net