Argentina’s President Alberto Fernández has urged Lionel Messi to make a sensational return to his homeland and finish his career at his former youth club Newell’s Old Boys.
The 33-year-old shocked the football world last week by informing Barcelona of his intentions to move on this summer after a turbulent season at the Camp Nou.
He has been most strongly linked to a move to Manchester City, where he would link up again with his former coach Pep Guardiola.
But some believe he might be tempted to return to Newell’s, whom he represented at the youth level from 1994-2000 before moving to Spain at just 13 years old.
(Image: Imago / PA Images)
And speaking on the Argentine television channel C5N, Fernández said in a message addressed to Messi: “You are in our hearts and we have never seen you play in our country.
“Give us the pleasure of ending your career with Newell’s Old Boys, your club.”
Many soccer fans in Argentina naturally compare Messi to the legendary Diego Maradona, and Fernández admitted that he admired the latter more because of the fact that he graduated from the team he supports, Argentinos Junior.
“The great merit of Maradona is that he played alone against the world,” added Fernández. “I have never seen a player like Maradona.
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“I admire him deeply, more than Messi, to be honest, because he comes from the youth of the Argentines. He was a kind of gladiator, with incredible strength.”
Newell’s fans staged a spectacular parade through the streets of Rosario on Thursday in hopes of showing Messi how much moving to the club would mean to them.
The club’s vice president, Cristian D’Amico, told TyC Sports: “Maradona came and everyone thought it was impossible. What Newell’s fan doesn’t have the dream of seeing the best in our jersey?”
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