I get asked to bring League Two stars to MLS – I have to tell them they’re nowhere near good enough, says Wayne Rooney

WAYNE ROONEY has said that agents of League Two players often ring him to get a move to the MLS.

But they are “nowhere near good enough” according to the England legend and now DC United manager.

Rooney was speaking as he prepares to manage an MLS All Star side in a friendly against Arsenal tomorrow.

He was pugnacious as ever in his views, as he said how Harry Kane is being held “prisoner” by Tottenham Hotspur.

But he also had a message to detractors of the MLS.

Speaking on the quality of the league, Rooney said: “Messi coming has surprised people.

“Even now I’m still getting agents phoning me up and telling me there’s a striker in League Two and he’s ready now to come to the MLS and I have to tell them ‘He’s nowhere near good enough to come and play in the MLS’.

“That’s a lack of understanding of the league and maybe a little bit  of disrespect towards it.”

Messi’s arrival has sparked a renewed interest in the MLS – which arguably hasn’t been seen since David Beckham made the move to join LA Galaxy in 2007.

The Argentine’s arrival has been partly funded by lucrative sponsorship deals – with Apple and Adidas both committing to part-fund Messi’s £830,000-a-week wages.

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And his new club Inter Miami look set to add more well-known stars to their squad – with Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba all linked with moves to the Miami side.

Rooney admitted that he does not see himself as the finished article in a managerial sense – but sees the MLS as a perfect place to sharpen his tactical nous.

He said: “I know I am not where I want to be as a finished article.

“The next few years are really important in terms of me getting to grips with the role and getting the best out of myself and eventually out of the players.

“But it’s also just seeing different challenges.

“I’ve had to learn about handling languages, culture, religion and understanding all those different scenarios which you will have to deal with.

“Patience is key, understanding that you are going to lose games, that you’re not going to win every game.

“Everyone faces different challenges but I really want to face them and figure them out myself.

“Derby and then here will be a big help for me to figure them out and face those difficult moments”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk