The current Manchester United squad are now in the midst of their preseason summer exhibition tour of the United States of America, and three former star players are currently playing club ball in America’s Major League Soccer.
Wayne Rooney came to D.C. United earlier this month, Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined L.A. Galaxy in the spring, and Bastian Schweinsteiger made the move to the Chicago Fire in March of 2017.
The trio were actually teammates at Old Trafford during the 2016-17 season. European stars crossing the pond in their 30s to play in MLS is certainly not a new trend, but it continues to be a major part of Major League Soccer headlines due to the simple fact that you have such huge name players involved.
What are the short and long term effects of this trend on MLS?
We asked Chicago Fire General Manager Nelson Rodriguez, during a media round table session at Toyota Park today, this very question.
As we’re currently in the midst of the International Champions Cup (United takes on AC Milan in Carson, California later tonight), we also asked Rodriguez how this collection of international friendlies, featuring Europe’s biggest clubs staged in the USA, could help inspire more European stars to here and play.
Obviously Major League Soccer is a whole lot more than just a couple big name stars making the move over from Europe during the twilight portion of their careers. You have 24 teams, each of which have up to 30 players. While a few transactions (which often come off like a real life, soccer version of the 1990 Tom Selleck movie “Mr. Baseball”) get a very large percentage of the media coverage, and make a big impact branding wise, it’s still comprises only a tiny percentage of MLS rosters.
Rodriguez sees it as a few individual moves, not an overall pattern. (He also gave an interesting take on what the MLS record breaking sale of Alphonso Davies to Bayern Munich means for the league)
“I don’t see it as a trend,” Rodriguez opened.
“The league is so large now, 23 teams, Cincinnati coming in making it 24 that everyone is doing what is in their best interests and that is how I believe it should be”
“I also think with the three gentlemen men you named, Basti, Ibra and Rooney, you’re talking about class, you’re talking about a high level of football.”
“We believe Basti has proven that, over a year and a half, it’s the reaction we’ve gotten from our fans, Ibra has clearly demonstrated his abilities and his vast personality, and I think given time Rooney will as well, but I don’t see it necessarily as a trend, I see it as people doing what their particular club needs at a given time.”
The ICC just passed through Chicago, as Borussia Dortmund beat Manchester City 1-0 at Soldier Field last Friday night. In his answer to second query, Rodriguez would mention another former United club legend, who also made the move to America towards the end of his career.
“I remember when (the L.A. Galaxy Owner) first started recruiting David Beckham, and it was on the basis of a friendly that Real Madrid played against the Galaxy at the Galaxy’s home stadium, and that’s what let it on, and then Beckham had a camp on the campus of their stadium.”
“I think it’s a great showcase.”
“MLS games are broadcast in 170 countries around the world, and people see the quality of our league, and they want to be a part of it.”
Rooney signed a two and half year deal that will pay him $13 million. Ibrahimovic took a 95% pay cut, going from $27 million a year to $1.4m with the Galaxy, while Schweinsteiger made $5.4 million with the Fire in 2017.
Later in the media session Rodriguez said that Schweinsteiger wants to return to the Fire for another year, and that the club also want him back. The GM added his belief that both sides are confident a deal will get done after the season is over.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud and YouTube. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to any and all of his.