Inter Miami-Newell’s: the words of the Leprosy coach on the possibility of Lionel Messi playing for his team in a friendly

There is a lot of anticipation in the Municipality of Newell’s for this Thursday. It’s the friendly against InterMiami can mean the unique possibility that Lionel Messi He plays for a few minutes in the Rossoneri shirt, closing a circle that has begun Diego Armando Maradona in the 90s. It is not yet confirmed, but the Uruguayan coach of Leprosy, Maurizio Larriera, answered the question during the pre-match press conference at the DVR PNK Stadium.

“You put me in a commitment, because the starter of the 10 is here (next to Ever Banega), I don’t know at a regulatory level how he will be taken, I have no certainty, we haven’t talked about it, I think they have transcended: “I don’t have any idea, I don’t know where the sports theme will end up, because it is the presentation of Inter Miami for the MLS Cup.”Larriera said.

The world champion began playing football in the club Ensign Grandolia few blocks from his home, and at the age of six he went to Newell’s Inferiores, who he will face for the first time this Thursday at 9.30pm (Argentine time), with the television in the stands AppleTVthrough a subscription to MLS season ticket.

Despite his very short stature, news of La Pulga’s innate talent reached the River Plate offices in Buenos Aires and Europe.

At the end of 2000, Barcelona managed to convince Messi to join its famous academy by covering the growth hormone treatment that Argentine teams did not guarantee.

Despite his traumatic departure from Rosario at the age of 13, Messi has maintained a sentimental bond with Newell’s and Argentine football, strengthened after the 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar.

Pulga, whose contract with Inter expires in 2025, has not ruled out freeing himself from the possibility of playing in the Professional League with Newell’s before retiring.

“Personally I have always had the idea, and even more so after being world champion, of being able to enjoy Argentine football, of playing at Newell’s. When I was little I went to play there, it was my dream to play there”Messi said this in an interview last September with host Miguel Granados.

Banega’s wish

Newell’s 10, as Larriera said, has been owned since this season by Éver Banega, who ensured that it would be “very pretty” That Lionel Messi He will play at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with the Argentine national team. “I hope that now he likes what is to come and that there is time for the Olympics. But hey, every time Leo is in the national team the flag is raised. I don’t know what he will do, but it would be very nice if he could accompany all those guys who they qualified, especially knowing that he already knows what the Olympics are and has won them.”he has declared.

“I hope he makes the best decision but it would be nice to see him again at the Olympics with the national team”added the midfielder, gold medalist with Messi in Beijing 2008.

“It’s a privilege to be able to be the protagonist of a match like this, of a very beautiful event for everyone, especially for young people”said a Banega who, despite it being a friendly match, said they will try to face the match “with the utmost seriousness”.

“Even though it’s a good show, we come to try to do things right”he has declared.

The midfielder recalled playing “endless parties” against Messi in Spain and acknowledged, with a smile, that he enjoyed those face-to-face matches even though things were better for the Barcelona legend in terms of results.

“You suffer but you also enjoy”he joked.

“That (Messi) is the greatest ambassador for the people of Newell’s is a privilege for us and that is why we enjoy every step he takes”hill.