Newell’s started the year with renewed hopes. After a poor 2025, which ended with the departure of Cristian Fabbiani and the interim period of Lucas Bernardi, La Lepra welcomed the duo of Sergio Gómez and Favio Orsi, who haven’t coached since they won the last Torneo Apertura with Platense. For 2026, they not only aim to succeed with the Rosario team but also have another strong desire: to be able to coach Lionel Messi.
“Obviously, for everyone at Newell’s, including us, it seems it would be wonderful for him to have the opportunity to play at his original club, in his city. That would be great if it could happen, so we will do everything within our reach,” Orsi stated in an interview with ESPN, knowing that his return would be quite an event and “a dream for all Argentine football,” added Gómez.
El Negro also mentioned that “we haven’t had the privilege of speaking. It would be a dream not only for us and our people but also for the country. It would be very nice for him to visit every stadium in our country,” he assured.
La Pulga emerged from Newell’s youth teams but emigrated to Barcelona at just 12 years old, where he joined La Masía until his debut in the First Division in 2004. The rest is well-known history. After a brief stint with Paris Saint-Germain, he has been playing for Inter Miami since 2023, where he recently won the MLS title, the first in the history of Las Garzas.
