Lionel Messi’s former club, Newell’s Old Boys, have made the player a special offer to be their guest of honour at their league clash against San Lorenzo on Thursday night.
Messi and his family are currently on vacation in Funes, Santa Fe - about 15km west from downtown Rosario, the home city of the 34-year-old. Messi is a boyhood fan of Newell’s Old Boys and, after the death of Diego Maradona last season, the star paid tribute to his idol with a Newell’s shirt after netting for Barcelona.
Maradona had a brief stint at Newell's towards the end of his playing career, while Messi spent six years there as a youngster before joining Barcelona's famed La Masia youth academy. Messi has previously spoken about his memories of watching Maradona play for Newell's, telling TyC Sports in 2013 that he was in the stadium for Maradona's debut in 1993. "I don't remember much, I was very young," Messi reflected. "But I saw Maradona on the pitch the day he made his debut against [Ecuadorian club] Emelec."
Maradona scored his only goal for Newell's that day and Messi imitated his celebration after scoring against Osasuna in November 2020, in the aftermath of Maradona’s death, and later posted a side-by-side image on Instagram of himself and his late compatriot.
Currently in Argentina, Messi was notified by the club that ‘the doors are open to watch the game’ and that he will be received with open arms. However, there is one problem: Messi’s family have a pre-planned vacation which clashes with their game against San Lorenzo at the Marcelo Bielsa stadium.
Newell’s are holding out hope that Messi may yet accept the offer at the last moment to be in attendance – as it would generate a huge deal of excitement in the city and publicity around the match. It has been a long time since the star attended a game of his boyhood club, but that wait may have to go on a little longer.
Have Your Say! Will Messi one day play for Newell's Old Boys? Tell us what you think here.
Former Newell's Old Boys boss German Burgos – the former Argentine goalkeeper who was long-time number two to Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid – said he believed Messi, then still at Barca before his move to Paris Saint-Germain last summer, would one day return to play for Newell’s. Speaking last year, he told La Capital : “I have the best plan for him. I believe in him. I think he can still give more.
“I don't think he'll leave Barcelona because it's his home, like Newell's is too. I think, one day, he's going to pass through here. Because if Diego Maradona played here, Messi will also want to play in Newell’s. I think at some point that will pass. Hopefully it will be soon.”
