Lionel Messi is a youth product of Barcelona, having joined the club at the age of 13. However, before leaving Argentina to go to Spain, the Rosario-born player was part of Newell's youth team. It is true that his heart is Catalan, but also red and black, which is why the ‘lepers‘, and probably all of Argentina, dream of the return of their greatest idol.
That dream, however, seems unlikely. The options to compete economically with Inter Miami are nil, and despite the love of the '10' for Argentina, he seems more motivated to return to Barcelona. Even so, Newell's Old Boys is actively working on a comprehensive project for Lionel Messi to wear the red and black shirt in the first half of 2027, taking advantage of the MLS calendar.
The initiative not only involves the Rosario club, but also local, provincial and Argentine soccer authorities, in what is already shaping up to be a historic operation.
Newell's and Messi: a plan that goes beyond football
The possibility of Lionel Messi‘s return to the club where he took his first steps is due to Juan Manuel Medina, first vice-president of Newell's Old Boys, who publicly confirmed that negotiations are underway to bring the Argentine star to the club in 2027.
We are working on having Leo play for Newell's in the first half of 2027. It is a project that goes beyond Newell's. It is a project of the city of Rosario, of the province and of Argentine soccer
Juan Manuel Medina
According to Medina, Messi's return does not depend solely on the club’s desire. The plan includes improvements in sports infrastructure, a competitive footballing scheme and a social impact that benefits the whole of Rosario.
And the mere presence of Messi in the Argentine league would represent an unprecedented boost: greater international visibility, economic growth, and sporting development. Contacts with the player’s entourage, the executive revealed, began in 2024, although he clarified that there is still no formal agreement.
Lionel Messi's contractual situation
Lionel Messi is currently under contract with Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 MLS season. This means that Newell's will have to find a special formula to secure his arrival in 2027. The options range from an early agreement, a loan, or a consensual departure. For now, there are no official negotiations with the American club, but the scenario, although unlikely, is not ruled out.
The closest precedent is the return of Angel Di Maria to Rosario Central in 2025, a move that revitalized local soccer and proved that the return of idols is no longer impossible.
At the age of 38 in 2027, Messi could evaluate a career-ending move right where it all began, as a child, in Rosario, for many Argentines, the perfect end to a successful career.
