Messi return to Newell’s Old Boys is not under negotiation, with the Argentine star reportedly keen to see out his Inter Miami contract until 2028

Lionel Messi has no immediate plans to return to Argentina, with transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano dismissing reports of negotiations between the Inter Miami captain and his boyhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, amid growing speculation about a possible move in January 2027.

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Romano said on Friday, October 30, that Messi was happy at Inter Miami and that his family was equally settled in the United States.

The Argentine forward, he added, intends to fulfil his existing contract, which runs until the end of the 2028 Major League Soccer season, with a longer stay also possible.

“There are no negotiations taking place for Lionel Messi’s return to Newell’s Old Boys despite reports. Messi is very happy at Inter Miami, same for his family.

Leo wants to fulfil his current deal until 2028, at least, could be even longer, to be evaluated later on,” Romano posted on X.

The clarification follows reports in Argentina suggesting that Messi had never been closer to returning to Rosario, where he began his football journey, with some accounts raising the possibility of a move as early as January 2027.

Those reports have generated excitement among Newell’s supporters, who have long hoped to see the club’s most celebrated youth product represent its senior team.

However, Romano’s update indicates that the speculation has not translated into active negotiations or an agreed transfer.

Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, quickly becoming the central figure in the club’s sporting ambitions and its growing profile in North American football.

His decision to remain was reinforced in October 2025, when the Florida-based club announced a contract extension through the end of the 2028 MLS season.

At the time, Messi publicly expressed his satisfaction with life at the club, describing his time in Miami as a positive experience and welcoming the prospect of playing at the club’s new home, Miami Freedom Park.

The extension also reflected Inter Miami’s intention to build its long-term project around the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Newell’s interest, meanwhile, is not new.

The Rosario club has repeatedly expressed its desire to bring Messi home, although its hopes have not previously resulted in a deal.

In September, club president Ignacio Boero acknowledged that the prospect remained part of the club’s ambitions but cautioned against putting pressure on the player.

Messi spent his early football years in Newell’s youth system before moving to Spain at the age of 13 to join Barcelona’s academy.

He never made a senior first-team appearance for the Argentine club, making a possible return particularly significant to supporters who regard him as one of their own.

The emotional appeal of such a move is considerable, but it does not necessarily reflect Messi’s immediate priorities.

His current contract gives him a clear commitment to Inter Miami, while his reported satisfaction with life in the United States provides little indication of an imminent departure.

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For now, a return to Rosario remains a possibility for the future rather than an active transfer development. Romano’s latest comments suggest that Messi is focused on completing his current spell in Miami, with any decision beyond 2028 left for another time.