Lionel Messi has stand named after him at club he never played for
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi supported Newell's Old Boys as a child and played in their youth team before joining Barcelona and moving to Spain aged 13 but has often spoke of a return
Newell's Old Boys have named a stand after Lionel Messi, despite never playing a single senior game for the club. The Argentina legend has featured for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami in his career but it is the Argentine club who have honoured the 38-year-old.
The club, based in Rosario, Santa Fe, has already dedicated much of their stadium to legends of the team. And while Messi never played professionally for the club, he is the latest to be recognised as the side's new stand increases the stadium capacity to 50,000 spectators.
The Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, also known as El Coloso, was named after the team's former manager in 2009. The stands making up the ground are named after Diego Maradona, Maxi Rodríguez and Tata Martino.
Messi is a lifelong supporter of Newell's and featured for the club from the age of six until 13. After representing youth teams, Messi made the move to Barcelona to continue his development at La Masia.
"Today, the Coloso writes a new page," Rosario-based club said. "For the first time, the two most powerful names in soccer history live under the same roof: OURS."
Messi has long spoken of the possibility of securing a dramatic return to Newell's to live out his childhood dream. The World Cup winner's contract is set to expire in 2025, though Inter Miami are said to hold an option to extend the deal for a further year.
That has not stopped Newell's president Ignacio Astore expressing his desire however. Speaking to TyC Sports, Astore spoke on a potential Messi return.
"It's something he has to decide," he said. "I haven't spoken to the player. I don't think it's appropriate to speak to him because it would put him in an awkward position. Maybe he has a contract, maybe he feels it's not the right time, maybe he has other family commitments... I know the appreciation he has for the institution and how much he wants to come."
A former Newell's manager was more forthright in his expectation however. Adrian Taffarel said: "According to the information I have, it's very likely that Messi will be at Newell's at the beginning of next year. There's a Newell's idol who played with him for Argentina who is talking to him about coming."
Speaking in 2017, Messi said: "The desire is always playing for Newell's, it is what I dreamed as a kid," Messi told Argentine channel TyC Sports.
"When I went to the club I imagined playing in the Primera Division, but I do not know what's going to happen in a few years. I cannot say I'm going back because I do not know where I'm going to be."
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Where Welsh rugby struggles, Mooney feels Welsh football is about to explode further.
