Short-term commitment
©IMAGO
Lionel Messi’s youth club Newell’s Old Boys dreams of the world champion returning as a professional for a few weeks. The club’s vice president, Juan Manuel Medina, confirmed a corresponding project to the broadcaster “TN”, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Messi’s temporary engagement would probably be planned during the Major League Soccer winter break from mid-December to mid-February 2027.
“This project goes beyond Newell’s,” Medina emphasized. “It is a project of the city of Rosario, the province and Argentine football.” Messi left the club at the age of 13 and moved to Europe for FC Barcelona. There he became a superstar. In the summer of 2021, Messi had to leave the Catalans because the heavily indebted club could no longer afford the Argentine. After two years at Paris Saint-Germain, Messi now plays for Inter Miami in the USA. He recently extended his contract there until the end of 2028.
Medina also confirmed initial discussions with Messi’s closest circle. The idea was put forward. “It all depends on what we can offer in terms of infrastructure and a competitive sports concept,” said the club official. As a professional, Messi never played for a club in his home country. In September last year he probably played his last competitive game with the national team in the World Cup qualifiers in Buenos Aires.
