Lionel Messi has long been linked with an emotional return to one of his former clubs before retiring, but this time, the offer isn’t coming from Barcelona.
Lionel Messi has long been linked with an emotional return to one of his former clubs before retiring, but this time, the offer isn’t coming from Barcelona. Instead, one of his earliest teams has stepped forward, presenting an unprecedented four-month contract proposal that would reunite him with a familiar face from his Argentina days.
The idea is both romantic and unexpected. Messi’s journey to stardom began far from the bright lights of the Camp Nou, in his hometown of Rosario, where he first honed his craft before moving to Europe as a teenager. Now, one of the clubs that helped shape his career is making a bold push to bring him back—if only for a short but historic spell.
The club in question is none other than Newell’s Old Boys, where Messi played as a young boy before leaving for Spain in 2000. While he never had the chance to represent them at the senior level, Newell’s are now looking to change that by offering him a four-month contract, with their manager openly expressing hope that Messi will consider the move.
“I hope Messi comes to play for just four months, whenever he wants,” Newell’s manager Cristian Fabbiani told ESPN F90. “A tournament lasts that long, four months. He could make a good duo with Ever [Banega].”
Interestingly, Messi and Ever Banega share a deep connection, having played together for Argentina at the 2008 Olympics, where they won gold. A reunion in Rosario, even for a brief spell, would be a major moment for the club’s fans.
Would Messi even consider it?
Messi’s current focus remains on Inter Miami, where he has quickly become the face of MLS. Since joining the Florida-based club, he has been instrumental in their rise to the top of the Eastern Conference and remains in contention for the CONCACAF Champions Cup. However, questions about his long-term future persist.
At 37 years old, Messi’s contract with Inter Miami includes an option to extend his stay into 2026. Club co-owner Jorge Mas has previously stated that he expects the Agrentine to still be playing when the team opens its new stadium in 2026, indicating that a move elsewhere might not happen immediately.
However, Messi has previously spoken about his desire to return to Newell’s before retiring. Back in 2016, he told Diario AS: “If I go back to Argentina tomorrow, which I would love, the club I would play for would be Newell’s.” Reports from El Nacional last year also suggested that the veteran’s ideal retirement plan involves finishing his career at the club where he took his first steps in professional soccer.
