Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney open to MLS move in future

Wayne Rooney says he will consider a future in MLS when his time at United is up

Wayne Rooney has said that he will consider a move to Major League Soccer in the future, adding that he is solely concentrating on Manchester United at the moment, The Guardian reports. The United skipper is currently in the United States with his teammates as part of the club’s pre-season tour and says he could follow the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in making the move across the Atlantic when his time in England comes to an end.

“I’m obviously concentrating on Manchester United,” said the 29-year-old, who has four years remaining on his contract at Old Trafford, told the Seattle Times in an interview. “When that time comes, that’ll be something I’d think about,” the Seattle Times reported Rooney as saying.

Rooney and his wife Coleen have two sons, five-year-old Kai and two-year-old Klay and are expecting their third child next January. The England international, who is just one goal short of equalising Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of most strikes (49) for the national team, says he will discuss things with his family before contemplating a move to MLS.

“I’ll sit down with my wife and children and decide if it would be right for me,” he told the Seattle Times.

Rooney also reflected on how his playing style has changed over the years, saying in his interview, “You’re always adapting tactically. You read the game better. I think that’s one of my qualities. That’s something that’s changed from me,” the forward said.

Rooney impressed by United’s fan base

Rooney said he was taken aback by the reception the United team has received since landing in the US on Monday and feels the support is only increasing.

“When you’re first getting into the first team, it’s not something you think about. You’re just trying to break into the team. The older you get, the more you start to think about it and realise how big football is,” he was reported as saying, by the Seattle Times.

United have been regular visitors to the US, including the last two pre-seasons since their takeover by the Glazer family and Rooney says he is thrilled at the reaction of the fans.

“Coming to these tours, you get to see it first-hand and realise the passion and how much football can bring people together,” he said, according to the Seattle Times.

United kick-off their pre-season with a match against Club America on Friday before taking on San Jose Earthquakes, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain in the three-week long tour.