Newell's Old Boys working to bring Messi back to club in 2027

The vice president of Lionel Messi's boyhood club Newell's Old Boys has revealed a plan to bring the superstar back home.

"We are working on Leo playing for Newell's in the first half of 2027," Juan Manuel Medina told Argentine publication TN on Tuesday, as reported by The Athletic's Jessica Hopkins.

He confirmed that nothing has been finalized over Messi's potential return, but said the idea originated in 2024. Newell's have held informal talks with Messi's representatives, AS' Hector Perez reports.

"It's a project that goes beyond Newell's. It's a project for the city of Rosario, the province, and Argentine football," Medina explained. "It all depends on what we can offer in terms of infrastructure and a competitive sports program."

Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023 and renewed his contract last October until the end of the 2028 MLS season.

Messi played for Newell's youth teams before he famously moved to Barcelona at 13, but his affection for the Rosario-based club remains. The iconic attacker told TyC Sports in 2017 - while still playing for Barca - that it was his "dream to play at Newell's," according to Marca.

The Argentine club's stadium, the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, has a stand named after Messi.

Messi, who turns 39 in June, is expected to captain reigning champion Argentina at this summer's World Cup, though he hasn't yet confirmed his participation in the tournament.

He's carried his success from Europe into his stint in North America with Inter Miami, winning the 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 Supporters' Shield, and the 2025 MLS Cup, while becoming the first player in Major League Soccer history to collect back-to-back MVP awards.