Latest news with #Newell's
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
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." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The Hindu
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Boyhood club of Lionel Messi sanctions 9-year-olds over photo with player from rival team
A simple photo between kids and a professional footballer has spiralled into controversy in Argentina, after Newell's Old Boys sanctioned youth players for posing with Rosario Central's Ignacio Malcorra, a move seen as a shocking escalation of the city's fierce football rivalry. Newell's, the Rosario club that once nurtured a young Lionel Messi, suspended the academy players from training and revoked their scholarships for three months after discovering their photo with Malcorra, who has played for bitter rivals Rosario Central during five seasons. The decision, which club officials framed as a protective measure following reported fan threats, has drawn strong criticism from both the public and prominent figures, while Malcorra himself expressed his dismay at the row. 'I feel sad for them. Children are innocent and don't know much about what they're doing,' Malcorra told reporters on Friday, recounting the chance encounter at a youth tournament three months ago. 'They just wanted to take a photo with a top flight player, like any child would.' As the photo went viral on social media only recently, club officials said earlier this week the matter had been dealt with internally, while some ultra-supporters had reportedly demanded the children to be expelled. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni also condemned the sanctions. 'If you dream of playing in the First Division one day, it doesn't matter who you play with,' he told reporters before Thursday's match against Chile. National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich on Friday called the sanctions 'disgraceful' on social media, suggesting the club had bowed to pressure from hardline supporters. The football rivalry, also known as the Rosario derby, reflects the deep footballing identity of the industrial port of Rosario - a city that produced eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi through Newell's and recently welcomed Argentina talisman Angel Di Maria back to Central. Newell's said the affected children 'continue to be members of the club' and that directors would meet with parents next week 'to continue listening to them, supporting them, and taking appropriate action.'
The Sun
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Newell's Sanctions Kids Over Photo With Rosario Central Star
A SIMPLE photo between kids and a professional footballer has spiralled into controversy in Argentina, after Newell's Old Boys sanctioned youth players for posing with Rosario Central's Ignacio Malcorra, a move seen as a shocking escalation of the city's fierce football rivalry. Newell's, the Rosario club that once nurtured a young Lionel Messi, suspended the academy players from training and revoked their scholarships for three months after discovering their photo with Malcorra, who has played for bitter rivals Rosario Central during five seasons. The decision, which club officials framed as a protective measure following reported fan threats, has drawn strong criticism from both the public and prominent figures, while Malcorra himself expressed his dismay at the row. 'I feel sad for them. Children are innocent and don't know much about what they're doing,' Malcorra told reporters on Friday, recounting the chance encounter at a youth tournament three months ago. 'They just wanted to take a photo with a top flight player, like any child would.' As the photo went viral on social media only recently, club officials said earlier this week the matter had been dealt with internally, while some ultra-supporters had reportedly demanded the children to be expelled. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni also condemned the sanctions. 'If you dream of playing in the First Division one day, it doesn't matter who you play with,' he told reporters before Thursday's match against Chile. National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich on Friday called the sanctions 'disgraceful' on social media, suggesting the club had bowed to pressure from hardline supporters. The football rivalry, also known as the Rosario derby, reflects the deep footballing identity of the industrial port of Rosario - a city that produced eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi through Newell's and recently welcomed Argentina talisman Angel Di Maria back to Central. Newell's said the affected children 'continue to be members of the club' and that directors would meet with parents next week 'to continue listening to them, supporting them, and taking appropriate action.' (Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
The Star
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Football rivalry gone too far: Argentine club Newell's sanctions 9-year-olds over rival player photo
FILE PHOTO: An-18-meter long Argentina shirt featuring soccer star Lionel Messi's surname is displayed at the Monumento a la Bandera (The National Flag Memorial), in Rosario, Argentina, December 16, 2022. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo (Reuters) -A simple photo between kids and a professional footballer has spiralled into controversy in Argentina, after Newell's Old Boys sanctioned youth players for posing with Rosario Central's Ignacio Malcorra, a move seen as a shocking escalation of the city's fierce football rivalry. Newell's, the Rosario club that once nurtured a young Lionel Messi, suspended the academy players from training and revoked their scholarships for three months after discovering their photo with Malcorra, who has played for bitter rivals Rosario Central during five seasons. The decision, which club officials framed as a protective measure following reported fan threats, has drawn strong criticism from both the public and prominent figures, while Malcorra himself expressed his dismay at the row. "I feel sad for them. Children are innocent and don't know much about what they're doing," Malcorra told reporters on Friday, recounting the chance encounter at a youth tournament three months ago. "They just wanted to take a photo with a top flight player, like any child would." As the photo went viral on social media only recently, club officials said earlier this week the matter had been dealt with internally, while some ultra-supporters had reportedly demanded the children to be expelled. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni also condemned the sanctions. "If you dream of playing in the First Division one day, it doesn't matter who you play with," he told reporters before Thursday's match against Chile. National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich on Friday called the sanctions "disgraceful" on social media, suggesting the club had bowed to pressure from hardline supporters. The football rivalry, also known as the Rosario derby, reflects the deep footballing identity of the industrial port of Rosario - a city that produced eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi through Newell's and recently welcomed Argentina talisman Angel Di Maria back to Central. Newell's said the affected children "continue to be members of the club" and that directors would meet with parents next week "to continue listening to them, supporting them, and taking appropriate action." (Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
The Sun
07-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Football rivalry gone too far: Argentine club Newell's sanctions 9-year-olds over rival player photo
A SIMPLE photo between kids and a professional footballer has spiralled into controversy in Argentina, after Newell's Old Boys sanctioned youth players for posing with Rosario Central's Ignacio Malcorra, a move seen as a shocking escalation of the city's fierce football rivalry. Newell's, the Rosario club that once nurtured a young Lionel Messi, suspended the academy players from training and revoked their scholarships for three months after discovering their photo with Malcorra, who has played for bitter rivals Rosario Central during five seasons. The decision, which club officials framed as a protective measure following reported fan threats, has drawn strong criticism from both the public and prominent figures, while Malcorra himself expressed his dismay at the row. 'I feel sad for them. Children are innocent and don't know much about what they're doing,' Malcorra told reporters on Friday, recounting the chance encounter at a youth tournament three months ago. 'They just wanted to take a photo with a top flight player, like any child would.' As the photo went viral on social media only recently, club officials said earlier this week the matter had been dealt with internally, while some ultra-supporters had reportedly demanded the children to be expelled. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni also condemned the sanctions. 'If you dream of playing in the First Division one day, it doesn't matter who you play with,' he told reporters before Thursday's match against Chile. National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich on Friday called the sanctions 'disgraceful' on social media, suggesting the club had bowed to pressure from hardline supporters. The football rivalry, also known as the Rosario derby, reflects the deep footballing identity of the industrial port of Rosario - a city that produced eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi through Newell's and recently welcomed Argentina talisman Angel Di Maria back to Central. Newell's said the affected children 'continue to be members of the club' and that directors would meet with parents next week 'to continue listening to them, supporting them, and taking appropriate action.' (Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
