Newell’s Old Boys Dream Of Emotional Lionel Messi Return As New Coaches Speak Out

The dream is alive in Rosario.

Newly appointed Newell’s Old Boys head coaches Favio Orsi and Sergio Gomez have openly admitted that bringing Lionel Messi back to his boyhood club remains a long-term ambition — one that would send shockwaves across world football.

While Messi is firmly settled in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, the emotional pull of home continues to fuel hope among Newell’s fans, club officials, and Argentine football lovers.

Messi famously began his football journey at Newell’s Old Boys before relocating to Barcelona as a teenager, a move that changed football history forever. Over two decades later, the idea of a fairytale return refuses to fade.

Speaking to ESPN, Orsi made it clear how much such a moment would mean.

“Everyone at Newell’s, including us, thinks it would be wonderful if he had the chance to play for his club and in his city,” he said.

Assistant coach Sergio Gomez echoed that sentiment, stressing the national impact of such a move.

“It would be a dream not only for our fans, but for the whole country.”

At present, reality places Messi in South Florida. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is working on a new contract with Inter Miami that would keep him at the club until 2028 — potentially taking him beyond his 40th birthday. Since arriving in MLS, Messi has helped elevate Inter Miami to MLS Cup winners and transformed the league’s global profile.

Still, Newell’s Old Boys are not giving up hope.

The club recently avoided relegation and is heading into a fresh presidential election cycle. One of the candidates, Guillermo Munoz, has openly spoken about his desire to explore the possibility of bringing Messi home — while also acknowledging the emotional and financial realities involved.

“I may really want Messi to come, but it’s not enough to just say, ‘someday, someday,’” Munoz told TNT Sports. “I see Messi and he makes me cry. But that doesn’t mean he’s above the club at all.”

History offers reason for belief. Diego Maradona once returned to Newell’s Old Boys after his European adventures, while Tata Martino — a former Inter Miami and Barcelona boss — also made multiple returns to the club as a player and coach.

Munoz believes Messi would need to make the first move.

“Messi has no commitment or obligation to Newell’s,” he said. “But if he really wants to come, he’d have to say so.”

Even the Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia has publicly expressed hope, referencing Angel Di Maria’s emotional return to Rosario Central at 37.

“I hope so,” Tapia said when asked about Messi playing in Argentina again.

Former Newell’s coach Cristian Fabbiano also floated the idea of a short-term deal, suggesting Messi could return for a single tournament — a four-month spell that would still be historic.

For now, Messi remains focused on life in MLS. But football has taught us one thing time and time again — emotions, legacy, and unfinished stories often matter as much as trophies.

And in Rosario, the dream of seeing Lionel Messi wear red and black once more refuses to die.

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