After Barcelona, Messi's Argentine hometown dreams of return

A mural of a young Lionel Messi in a Newell’s Old Boys jersey, tiny and barefoot with a soccer ball in front of him, inspires hundreds of young people at Argentine club's youth school to dream of succeeding like ir hometown hero.

Messi’s surprise decision to leave European club Barcelona earlier this week has sparked unlikely dreams in residents of Rosario, city 300 kilometers (186 miles) rth of Bues Aires where he was born, that he would return to play with local team, Newell’s Old Boys.

Hundreds of Newell’s fans formed a isy and colorful caravan of vehicles Thursday that went from Rosario’s “Marcelo Bielsa” stadium to its Flag Monument, symbol of this city on banks of Paraná River. Many participants donned red-and-black Newell’s jerseys and waved club flags, honking horns and setting off flares.

“All of Argentina wants to see you smile,” read a poster on window of one car.

Newell’s fans kw y don’t have millions to offer 33-year-old superstar that owners of European clubs Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain or Inter Milan do. Those clubs are seen as Messi's most likely destinations.

ir strategy is to touch heart of one of world soccer’s top stars and help him settle a pending issue in his careeer: playing professional soccer in Argentina, something he hasn’t done because he went to Europe at young of 13.

“Our competition with or clubs is t ecomic or sporting, what we offer Messi is a chance to reencounter with amateur roots of his training and let him do it in his home city,” said fan Roberto Mensi, speaking to Associated press at Malvinas complex, Newell’s youth soccer school.

w famous foot of a tiny Messi eluding much-bigger opponents in 7-on-7 matches in Argentina’s so-called “baby soccer” category was filmed on grounds here surrounded by red-and-black painted walls.

Argentine team didn’t want to pay for growth hormone treatment for Messi so his far took Messi to Barcelona as a young teen.

Although he has spent more than half his life in Catalonia, Messi returns every year to Rosario for Christmas and in past he has publicly said he would like to play for Newell’s.

This has led residents to ask: Why t w?

“ news (of Messi’s decision to leave Barcelona) generated illusions in us,” Mensi ackwledged. “We kw this may t be moment for this to happen, but we want to show that door is open for Leo to come back whenever he wants. People have a lot of affection for him.”

Im credits: AP