By Daniel Edu
Lionel Messi is poised to reunite with his childhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, as the Argentine team has agreed to participate in a pre-season friendly at Inter Miami in February.
The Major League Soccer club made the announcement on Monday, revealing that the match against Newell’s will take place at their DRV PNK Stadium on February 15.
Newell’s, based in Messi’s hometown of Rosario, holds special significance for the football star as he played for their youth team before making a move to the Spanish club Barcelona at the age of 13.
Inter Miami’s coach, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, who also hails from Rosario and played for Newell’s in three separate stints, expressed his excitement about the upcoming fixture. “I am delighted to welcome my beloved Newell’s to our home here in Miami. It will be a special match due to everything Newell’s Old Boys means to me,” Martino said. He sees the match as an excellent opportunity to prepare for what promises to be an exciting season.
This friendly encounter is part of Inter Miami’s packed pre-season schedule, which commences with a match against the El Salvador national team in San Salvador on January 19. Subsequently, the club will engage in two matches in Saudi Arabia, including a showdown with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, followed by fixtures in Hong Kong and Tokyo.
