Former England manager Fabio Capello feels Wayne Rooney had lost some of his edge before he swapped the Premier League for Major League Soccer last year.
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Manchester United and England's record goalscorer plumped for a return to boyhood club Everton in July 2017 but he stayed just one season before he linked up with DC United.
Capello, who has exchanged occasional barbs with Rooney in the past about their time together with England, delivered a withering assessment of the striker's most recent spell at the Toffees.
The Italian would not comment on England but, speaking in his role as a Laureus Ambassador, he said of Rooney: "He decided to go to America, it is new football, different football.
"It is a new experience and a lot of Italian players go there to finish off their careers.
"Rooney is a good player but I saw the season when he returned to Everton and he didn't perform well.
"He was on the pitch but like another part of the team.
"It was not the Rooney I remember - fighting, running - nothing.
"He lost everything, all his characteristics."
Australian Associated Press
