Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi could return to boyhood club Newell's Old Boys after the 2018 World Cup, according to the Argentine side's vice-president Cristian D'Amico.
Messi, 29, was at the club as a boy before moving to Barca's famed La Masia academy and developing into arguably the best player ever.
Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer has long been linked with a return to Newell's before his retirement.
Now, D'Amico has again opened up on the possibility of a Messi return and believes it will happen.
"I am convinced, like many of my peers, that 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."
D'Amico knows how big an impact Messi would have if he came back to the Rosario-based club.
"Imagine a game with Messi in the Coloso [Estadio Marcelo Bielsa], with the press around the world," he said.
"The sponsors who would come... that would make a difference economically, apart from the sentimental value, and could make a big difference to clean up the debts."
'Did I say no to Liverpool last summer? Yes, I did. But I'll be very clear: if this offer had come at the end of August, just before the end of the transfer window, I would have accepted it' Reds target admits he turned down Arne Slot's project
Manchester City ready to sell Phil Foden, in shock transfer listing: report
