When football fans think of Lionel Messi, they remember Barcelona and his accomplishments. However, the Argentinian’s first passion existed before he moved to Spain as a teenager.Messi was a fan of Newell’s Old Boys as a child, and the 36-year-old is now poised to face his former club Inter Miami.
As part of their preseason program, the MLS team will face their Argentinian rivals on February 15 at Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium. Messi’s club is managed by Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, another former Barcelona player, and the two will face the team from their hometown, Rosario, where they grew up in the minor ranks. Messi moved to Barcelona after playing for Newell’s in his early years, and Martino has made the most appearances in Newell’s history. He was also a key figure in their title triumphs in 1988, 1990, 1991, and 1992. In 2013, he also won a title as a manager. Messi has previously stated that he would like to return to Argentina and play for Newell’s before retiring. However, with a contract until December 2025, his move to the United States will put his goals on hold for the time being.
Martino is happy to face his history.”I’m thrilled to be able to welcome my beloved Newell’s to our Miami home. “It will be a special game because of what Newell’s Old Boys means to me,” Martino stated in December.Sergio Busquets’ availability for the encounter remains uncertain, since the former Spain international suffered an injury in their most recent game. Tickets for the game are already on sale, and those who want to attend will have to dig deep into their pockets, with seat prices ranging from $120 to a whopping $7,500.
