Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber has warned football’s big stars that US clubs are not their retirement homes.
Garber was speaking to the media on Tuesday evening addressing Neymar’s comments that he ‘would love to play in the US’ before hanging his boots. The MLS commissioner however did appreciate the interests the likes of Neymar and Lionel Messi have shown.
Neymar’s comments
“Their season is shorter so I would get three months vacation. I would play many more years,” the Brazilian said.
Paris Saint-Germain teammate Lionel Messi has also shown interest in playing in the MLS before his retirement.
In response to Neymar’s comments, Garber said the league has outgrown the days of bringing big-name players.
“We don’t need to bring in a big-name player at the end of their career because they decided they want to retire in MLS,” he told reporters.
“We want our story to be about young players coming here at the earliest stages or in the prime of their career and making our league their league of choice.”
James Rodriguez has also been linked with a move to the MLS while Xherdan Shaqiri is set to join Chicago Fire this season.
“You have players coming at 30. I don’t think 30 is old when you are an MLS player.”
The US league will have 28 sides when an expansion team in Charlotte takes the field this year. It will also expand to 29 with St. Louis set to join the league next year.
See also: Neymar hints at his next move
