Lionel Messi could return to his boyhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, in 2024, with Inter Miami looking to arrange a friendly with the Argentine side.
Messi played for Newell’s Old Boys between 1995 and 2000 before joining FC Barcelona. He has long spoken of his desire to one day return to his native country to finish his career there.
In the meantime, the Argentinian is impressing in MLS, where he began his career in explosive fashion with Inter Miami.
He could nevertheless be offered a reunion with Newell’s in the form of a friendly match, TyCSports reporting that there is a “big chance” of a deal being struck between Tata Martino’s team and Gabriel Heinze’s South Americans.
The Argentine source reports that “in Rosario they are optimistic”: “ In Rosario, it is believed that there is a good chance that Newell’s will be able to hold a friendly against Leo’s team, who since his arrival has won the Leagues Cup and recently lost the US Open Cup. In Florida, for their part, they recognize that the negotiation will take place in January or February 2024.”
The friendly will likely be played in Florida, with the possibility of a lucrative deal given the interest that is sure to surround the encounter.
Former FC Barcelona coach Tata Martino is said to be pushing for this match to take place, given that he also has a close relationship with Newell’s.
According to the South American source, there are still “several details to be worked out”, but the prospect of a match is very real.
