Newell's Old Boys president Eduardo Bermúdez has announced they remain in hope of welcoming back Lionel Messi.

Newell's is Messi's hometown club and have long insisted a place is waiting for the Barcelona captain - when he chooses to leave Spain.

Messi paid tribute to the memory of Diego Maradona in victory over Osasuna on Sunday by stripping off his Barca shirt to show a Newell's strip after scoring. Newell's was Maradona's last club as a player, where he completed his career between 1993-95.

"Hopefully one day, when he decides, we can have him back here because we love him here," said Bermúdez, who confessed that Messi's gesture did not surprise him: "I adore and love Messi. I had no doubt that, because of the love he has for Newell's, he would do it. But it was tremendous."

On Messi returning, he continued: "As president, it would be unwise to give an opinion. He is going to decide it but, come or not, we love him. Messi is a very dear person for Newell's, Rosario and all of Argentina. I've been president for four years and hopefully we can bring him back."