Why doesn't MLS want James Rodriguez and Neymar in their ranks?

In recent days both Neymar and James Rodriguez gave their stance on the next step they want to take in their careers, which points to MLS, but instead of like that idea, the Commissioner, Don Garber, said it was an insult.

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Neymar: "I would like to play in MLS for at least one season"

While he appreciates the interest expressed by Neymar or Lionel Messi, the MLS commissioner warned Tuesday that the US soccer league is not a retirement home for global stars.

In his press appearance ahead of Saturday's start of the new season, Garber referred to comments by Neymar expressing his desire to play in the United States for at least one season when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires in 2025. 

"The championship over there is short, then you have three or four months off. It allows you to play for a lot more years," the 30-year-old Brazilian star said a few days ago on the podcast and YouTube show "Fenómenos". 

What did the MLS commissioner say?

Asked about the expressed willingness of stars such as Neymar or Messi to one day play in MLS, commissioner Garber stressed that the league is past the days of needing to attract attention through big-name retiring stars. 

"If they don't come here to play and contribute in a big way to their teams and our league, and respect the league and its fans, then we don't want them in MLS," he said.

"We want our story to be about young players coming here in the early stages or prime of their careers and making our league their choice," Garber said. 

Messi, Neymar, and James have said they want to go to MLS

Argentina's Lionel Messi, 34, Neymar's teammate at PSG, said a few months ago that he was attracted by the possibility of playing in the United States in the future, an idea also expressed in the last week by Colombia's James Rodriguez, 30. 

Garber pointed to Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri, recently signed by the Chicago Fire at the age of 30, as an example of how more and more stars are choosing to play in the United States in their prime. 

"I'm proud that we're bringing in players who are 30 years old or younger," he said. 

The commissioner recognized other stars who came earlier to MLS

The commissioner, however, acknowledged the value provided by some stars who practically hung up their boots in MLS, such as David Beckham, and other veterans who came with a competitive mentality. 

In the latter case, Garber lamented that Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic's arrival at the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2018 was viewed differently than when he returned to AC Milan a year later when "no one said he was going to retire to Italy."

In addition to Shaqiri, other global stars joining MLS this season include Italy's Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC) and Brazil's Douglas Costa (Galaxy). 

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Héctor Herrera has received a formal offer from an MLS club