Newell's Old Boys vice-president Cristiano D'Amico says they believe Lionel Messi could return from Barcelona inside two years' time.

Messi turns 31 that year and they see that as the ideal age for him to come 'home' to Argentina.

D'Amico spoke to ESPN, saying: "I am convinced, like many of my peers, we can make history as a club if we get the best player in the world in a Newell's shirt.

"I think we're going to get the pleasure of Messi wearing the shirt. It would be revolutionary.

"Imagine a game with Messi in the Coloso [Estadio Marcelo Bielsa], with the press around the world, the sponsors who would come... that would make a difference and economically, apart from the sentimental value, it could make a big difference to cleaning up the debts."