"He wants to come" - Club president claims Lionel Messi wants to join them as Inter Miami contract talks stall
Newell's Old Boys president Ignacio Astore has revealed that Lionel Messi wishes to join the club as he appears to close in on an Inter Miami exit. The 37-year-old is in the final year of his contract with the Herons and talks over a new deal have not progressed as expected.
Astore spoke with TyC Sports about the hopes held by those at Newell's Old Boys with respect to Messi joining the club before his retirement. He acknowledged that the final decision is up to the Argentina great and he has yet to speak with him, but he is aware of his desire to return to the club.
"It's something he has to decide. 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."
Lionel Messi was on the books of the Rosario-based outfit as a child before moving to Barcelona straight from the academy. Despite never coming close to making a first-team appearance for the Argentine side, he has proudly embraced the fact that they are his club.
Messi's deal with Inter Miami is expected to be extended by at least a year until 2026, with the club hopeful of keeping him until they move to their new stadium next year. However, talks appear to have stalled, leading to talk of the former Barcelona icon possibly leaving the MLS side.
A move to Argentina will see the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner emulate some of his former national teammates, most recently Angel Di Maria, who joined Rosario Central this summer. He has a few months to reach a decision on his future, with his contract still valid with Inter Miami until the end of the year.
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi named Player of the Matchday for second successive game
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has been named MLS Player of the Matchday after helping his side claim a 5-1 win over Columbus Crew. The 37-year-old scored twice and provided two assists in the comfortable win for the Herons.
Lionel Messi set up Tadeo Allende to beat the high defensive line set up by Crew and open the scoring in the game. He then went on to score twice before playing another inch-perfect through ball for Fafa Picault to score a fifth for Javier Mascherano's side.
The former PSG man became the first player this season to win consecutive Player of the Matchdays awards. He joined Philadelphia Union star Tai Baribo as the only players to have received the award more than once in the 2025 season.