Lionel Messi says he still has the desire to play for his childhood club, Newell's Old Boys. The little Argentine left the club at the age of 13 and moved to Barcelona and has since gone to achieve great things with the club – including a staggering five FIFA Ballon d'Or awards.
His dream, however, is to return to the club he always supported and play for them professionally before he retires. "I would love to [return]," Messi told Telefe's Polemica en el Bar. "It is something I have kept an eye on because it was my dream as a child.
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"Obviously, my life started to change and went another way, but I have no regrets.
"It's something I have kept an eye on. I want to play in Argentine football and Newell's, where I grew up."
Newell's have also been very open about the possibility of the 29-year-old coming back 'home' with the club's Vice President, Cristian D'Amico, saying recently that Messi coming back would be a huge boon for the club – in both sentimental and economical values.
"I am convinced, like many of my peers, we can make history as a club if we get the best player in the world in a Newell's shirt," he said.
"I think we're going to get the pleasure of Messi wearing the shirt. It would be revolutionary.
"Imagine a game with Messi in the Coloso [Estadio Marcelo Bielsa], with the press around the world, the sponsors who would come... that would make a difference and economically, apart from the sentimental value, it could make a big difference to cleaning up the debts."
Lionel Messi's present contract runs out at the end of the 2018 season and he's due to sign a new contract within the coming months. His importance within the squad is likely to delay Newell's wish by a few years.
