In Rosario, the dream of seeing Lionel Messi wear Newell’s Old Boys colours again remains alive, but the club has chosen patience over public pressure as the Argentine forward deals with a difficult personal period.
Key takeaways
- Newell’s president Ignacio Boero says the club will not push Messi over a possible return.
- Messi, 39, is under contract with Inter Miami until December 2028.
- The forward has already announced his international retirement.
- Boero said Messi is coping with the death of his father, Jorge, who was also a central figure in his professional affairs.
- Newell’s believe the possibility will remain open for as long as Messi continues playing.
A Rosario hope held in reserve
Messi has never hidden his attachment to Newell’s, the club where his footballing journey began, and the feeling has long been mutual. A return to the red-and-black side has been an enduring ambition in Rosario, though it remains a prospect for another time rather than an immediate discussion.
Boero said the club has been working for some time on the idea of bringing Messi back, but stressed that compassion must take precedence after Jorge Messi’s death. He described Messi’s father as his business partner and manager, a man who handled an enormous number of matters around the player’s career.
“Lionel is going through a very difficult personal moment,” Boero said. “I cannot imagine everything that Jorge dealt with and resolved. For that reason, I do not think a move to Newell’s is on Lionel’s mind at present.”
No pressure while Messi remains active
Messi’s commitment to Inter Miami runs through December 2028, placing any potential homecoming well beyond the current horizon. His decision to retire from international football has also marked a new stage in a career that has taken him from Rosario to Barcelona, Paris and Miami.
For Newell’s, however, the invitation will not expire while Messi is still on the pitch. Boero said the circumstances require the club to wait rather than attempt to accelerate a decision.
“We have to let this situation unfold and wait,” he said. “As long as he is still playing, there will always be hope. But this is not the time to put him under pressure. It is simply a human matter.”
