Messi hopes to retire at boyhood team, Newell's Old Boys

CAIRO – 29 May 2018: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi revealed on Monday that he hopes to play again for his boyhood team, Newell's Old Boys.

“I wanted to play someday in Argentina. I don't know if it will happen, but I have it in mind. It would be Newell's, nothing more. I'd like to do that for at least six months," Messi told Argentine TV program “Passion for football”.

Messi, 31, represented his home town club, Newell's Old Boys, during his first days playing the game. He joined the Argentinean club when he was seven, where he stayed until his departure to Barcelona when he was 13.



Asked about the chances of winning more titles if he decided to represent Spain rather than Argentina, he said, “The other day I was talking to a friend and he said to me, 'Look, if you had stayed with Spain, you would be world champion'.”

Messi was offered to represent Spain on the international level after he joined Barcelona, but he rejected the offer to represent Argentina.



Messi added, “But it wouldn't have been the same. Obviously, it never crossed my mind at any time. Being a champion with Argentina would be special."

Messi has started preparations with the Argentina national team for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Argentina plays in Group D alongside Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.