Newell Old Boys Still Dreaming: Can Lionel Messi Come Home One Last Time?

‘The institution will always want Lionel Messi’ – Newell’s Old Boys president shares hope of emotional return for Inter Miami superstar

In the heart of Rosario, Argentina, where the red and black of Newell’s Old Boys bleeds through every street corner, the dream of seeing Lionel Messi return home still burns as brightly as ever. The greatest player to ever lace up boots may now call Miami home, but to those in Rosario, he’s still the boy who once wore their badge with pride.

While Messi continues dazzling in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, Newell’s Old Boys are quietly, and patiently, working behind the scenes to make an emotional homecoming happen — even if it’s for just one match.

A story that started in Rosario

Long before he became a global icon — before the records, the Ballon d’Ors, and the World Cup triumph — Lionel Messi was simply a talented youngster training at the youth academy of Newell’s Old Boys. His early years at the club were filled with promise, his unmatched skill apparent even then. But at the age of 13, a move to Barcelona changed everything.

Messi became a legend at Camp Nou. Over two decades of brilliance in Europe followed, first at Barcelona and later in Paris with PSG. After his time in France ended, he opted for a new chapter, heading across the Atlantic to join Inter Miami in the summer of 2023 on a two-and-a-half-year deal. The move surprised some, but it offered Messi a more relaxed environment, a chance to grow the game in the U.S., and the opportunity to prepare for what may be the final stages of his career.

Yet even as he thrives in the sun-drenched pitches of Florida, the whispers in Rosario grow louder. The question lingers: could Messi come back home?

“Even if it’s one match…”

What comes next for Messi?

Newell’s Old Boys president Ignacio Astore is well aware of the logistical hurdles. He’s not selling false hope. But he is honest — and hopeful.

“The institution will always want Messi,” Astore told Cadena 3. “Even if it’s just one tournament, eight matches, six, four, one match… to play it in a Newell’s jersey. That’s the reality. And we always work towards that.”

It’s not hard to see what a return would mean — not just for Newell’s, but for Argentine football as a whole. For Messi to come full circle and pull on the same shirt he wore as a child, in front of the fans who supported him before the world knew his name, would be a fitting final chapter to one of the greatest careers the sport has ever seen.

Astore admitted the path to making it happen is complicated. “The points have to be found. We have to see if Messi doesn’t have an exit clause, a specific contract… we have to see if the Messi family’s conditions can be met, due to school issues, due to 27 million issues that sometimes don’t depend on the player.”

That number — 27 million — speaks volumes about the many moving parts behind such a monumental move. Contracts, sponsors, logistics, family, timing — all must align perfectly for Messi to even consider returning to play in the Argentine Primera División.

A relationship from afar

Interestingly, while Astore has a warm relationship with the Messi family, he doesn’t have direct contact with Leo himself. “I have a good relationship with his family, but not with him. Right now, it’s difficult. That doesn’t mean that one day it won’t be difficult and it will be easier to bring him.”

Those close to Messi know he holds Rosario close to his heart. He regularly returns when his schedule allows, often donning Newell’s gear in public, a subtle nod to the connection that never faded. His son, Thiago, has also been spotted wearing Newell’s colours — a quiet tribute to roots that run deep.

“He’ll probably want to come,” Astore continued. “When he can, he goes out with the shirt, his son… It also depends on Messi’s commitments.”

And therein lies the crux of the matter. As much as Messi may want it — and as much as Newell’s may want it — the timing, circumstances, and commitments of a global icon often get in the way of fairytale endings.

What comes next for Messi?

What comes next for Messi?

For now, Lionel Messi remains focused on the task at hand: helping Inter Miami chase MLS glory. The Herons are building something special with Messi at the heart of it, and his influence has already transformed the club on and off the pitch. His contract, set to expire at the end of 2025, reportedly includes options that could keep him in Florida through the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Club executives remain optimistic that Messi will stay in Miami beyond the current deal. They’ve built a project around him, invested heavily in bringing in familiar faces — including Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez — and handed him a stake in the future of the club.

But even with his roots firmly planted in South Beach for now, the dream of a final act in Argentina refuses to go away.

A poetic ending?

Football has always had a flair for the dramatic. Think Francesco Totti staying at Roma for his entire career. Or Andrés Iniesta taking his final Barcelona bow with a standing ovation. For Messi, the most poetic ending might not be in Europe, or even Miami — it could be back where it all began.

In a Newell’s Old Boys shirt. In Rosario. One last dance.

Whether it’s for a full season or a single game, the club is ready. The city is ready. The fans have waited more than two decades to see their prodigal son return.

The message from Ignacio Astore is loud and clear: “We always work towards that.”

And in football, dreams don’t always come true — but sometimes, just sometimes, they do.