Here's something you don't hear every day. Newell's Old Boys has just confirmed they're actively working to bring Lionel Messi back to Argentina. And we're not talking about some distant dream – they want him on loan in early 2027.
Juan Manuel Medina, a vice-president at the club, told TN they've been planning this since 2024. "We are working on Leo playing for Newell's in the first half of 2027, but for now there is nothing more than that," he revealed.
Think about this for a second. Messi has never played senior club football in his home country. He left for Barcelona's La Masia academy when he was just 13 years old. His entire adult life has been spent abroad.
So bringing him back to Rosario would be absolutely massive. Not just for Newell's, but for the entire city and Argentine football as a whole.
What's the Plan?
The idea is to get Messi on loan from Inter Miami for a few months. He recently signed a new deal with the MLS Cup champions that runs until 2028. But Newell's wants to borrow the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner for part of 2027.
Here's where it gets tricky. Medina mentioned "the first half of 2027," but that's pretty vague. If Messi stayed until the end of June, he'd miss a big chunk of the MLS season, which kicks off in February.
"It's a project that goes beyond Newell's," Medina explained. "It's a project for the city of Rosario, the province and Argentine football. It all depends on what we can offer in terms of infrastructure and a competitive sports program."
Interestingly, Ángel Di María already made a similar move. The former Argentina international returned to Rosario in 2025 after 18 years in Europe, though he joined city rivals Rosario Central.
How Would This Actually Work?
MLS teams have done this before. David Beckham went on loan from LA Galaxy to AC Milan twice – in 2009 and 2010. The first time, he was supposed to return in March but controversially stayed until summer.
Landon Donovan also had loan spells at Bayern Munich and Everton while contracted to LA Galaxy. But he always made it back for the start of the MLS season.
For bettors and fantasy players, this potential move creates some interesting questions. If Messi does go to Argentina in January 2027, either he'll miss MLS games or the loan will be very short. That could impact Inter Miami's odds significantly, considering how crucial he's been to their success.
Nothing is confirmed yet beyond the fact that Newell's is seriously working on it. But imagine Messi finally playing in Argentina's top flight. That would be something special to witness.
