Lionel Messi is considering returning to his boyhood club Newell's Old Boys in Argentina – that is according to his close friend and former teammate Sergio Aguero.
Aguero was forced into early retirement due to health issues last season after being taken to hospital due to breathing difficulties. However, he remains close friends with Messi – whom he was a long-time roommate with at international level with Argentina.
The former striker was part of Argentina’s entourage at the World Cup earlier this winter and was a key part of the celebrations, as the South American nation won the trophy for the first time in 36 years with Messi spearheading the triumph.
Messi is said to be set to open contract extension negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain having joined the French club on a two-year contract in the summer of 2021. After a difficult debut campaign in Paris, he has netted 16 goals and provided 17 assists this season and has spoken of his happiness at adapting to life in France this term.
Messi has been linked with a return to Barcelona but he has been refusing to answer phone calls made on behalf of a negotiator close to Barca president Joan Laporta, who is desperate for the Argentine star to return to the Camp Nou but his negotiating tactic has so far proven unsuccessful.
With a return to the Camp Nou appearing to be off the table and a delay in opening negotiations with PSG – where his continuation is far from certain – that has led to speculation that Messi may be open to a move away from European football.
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"He is seriously considering the possibility of playing for Newell's," Aguero recently said, as cited by UOL. Maxi Rodriguez has responded to those comments by downplaying them and laughing them off as Aguero trying to create a little bit of mischief. Kun is Kun,” Rodriguez said of the former striker. “He can't keep quiet.
“We will see. It is hard to talk about this because then a giant ball of rumours is made. Let's wait and see what happens, we will not get ahead of the facts."
A report from infobae makes the claim that not only are Newell's eyeing up the possibility of signing Messi but that the superstar will play for the club in a testimonial match for Rodriguez – who retired from playing with Newell’s his final club in 2021 – in June, as a ‘trial run’ in their attempts to sign him before his retirement.
MLS club Inter Miami have also explored the possibility of tempting Messi to the United States this summer but despite reports that a deal had been agreed upon at the end of the current season, that appears to be premature. Their coach Phil Neville has subsequently talked up the possibility of a move.
"We want to bring the best players in the world to this football club," Inter Miami boss Neville told The Times. "Messi and Busquets are the two that stand out more in recent years. They're great players who would still be a massive benefit to this organisation. For MLS, it would be a game-changer."
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