Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has admitted that he would like to one day return to Argentina in order to play for boyhood club Newell's Old Boys.
A lifelong fan of the club, Messi was born and raised in Rosario, where Newell's are based, and played for their youth academy from 1995 until 2000 but left for Barcelona before he could break into the first team.
"Ever since I was a little boy, I've been dreaming about playing in the Argentinian league, and for Newell's Old Boys in particular," Messi was quoted as saying by ESPN Brasil.
"I really want to experience the feeling of playing for them. I always used to stay up late in order to watch the games on television when I was a little boy."
At 11 years of age, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, which would cast doubt over his entire career in the game.
Barcelona came to the rescue and offered to pay for Messi's medical bills if he was willing to move to Spain.
Therefore his family accepted the offer and the rest is history.
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| Photos of Lionel Messi during his youth career in Newell's Old Boys in Argentina Photo: Resultados de fútbol |
A lifelong fan of the club, Messi was born and raised in Rosario, where Newell's are based, and played for their youth academy from 1995 until 2000 but left for Barcelona before he could break into the first team.
The 24-year-old is still a passionate follower of the club's fortunes, and appeared last July in a charity match at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, along with fellow Newell's alumni Maxi Rodríguez and Javier Zanetti.
"Ever since I was a little boy, I've been dreaming about playing in the Argentinian league, and for Newell's Old Boys in particular," Messi was quoted as saying by ESPN Brasil.
"I really want to experience the feeling of playing for them. I always used to stay up late in order to watch the games on television when I was a little boy."
At 11 years of age, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, which would cast doubt over his entire career in the game.
Barcelona came to the rescue and offered to pay for Messi's medical bills if he was willing to move to Spain.
Therefore his family accepted the offer and the rest is history.
Related links:
Team
Personal
Also see:
