Reunion night. Messi and Newell’s, pure feeling, on a journey to their most intimate memories

The twists and turns of life landed him in Barcelona, ​​22 years ago, in that February of 2002. There he built the prologue of the legend. Before, long before, he was a kid from Rosario with ball dreams with a red and black shirt on his skin. “It was a dream that I always had, since I was little and it is something that I always have there: to be able to play in Argentine soccer. Since I was a child I went to the field and I wanted to be there…” he once described Lionel Messi his love for Newell’s. Through Independencia Park, the mystique of the Colossus.

Last night, his heart must have been beating harder as he faced his own past in a preparatory meeting. With his life story. It was 1-1 at the DRV PNK Stadium, in one of those games that everyone wants to be in. So many that 40 players ended up entering!, since Tata Martino made seven changes, and the Uruguayan Larriera made eleven variations. Without Messi on the court, Shanyder Borgelin put the Herons ahead; Franco Díaz tied it with seven remaining, after a defensive error by the local team.

Lionel Messi, inside the area, and a shot that will come very close; Vangioni and Glavinovich fail to prevent itRICH STORRY – GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA

Days of childhood and tribune. “When I was seven or eight years old, I remember going with my dad, my uncle and my brothers. We always went to the stalls. If it wasn’t a very complicated match that could end in trouble, like a classic, we would go whenever we could,” he said more than once. The Tame Louse was a weakness. “I lived through the time of Manso, Earthquake Cejas, Cobelli, Real and Zamora… although I saw little of Zamora.”

Newell’s, the club where Messi played when he was very young, faced Inter Miami last night, at the DRV PNK stadium, in the city of the sun. It was a trip to the tunnel of memories, while he prepares at full speed for a demanding season, in which the America Cup It will be the stellar banquet.

Messi was a starter, having overcome the muscle discomfort that sidelined him from the Asia tour matches. The idea of Mauricio Larriera, the coach of Newell’s, was for the players to suffer as little wear and tear as possible, which is why he took advantage of the friendly to give minutes to the substitutes and youth players. The red and black professional team, made up of 25 players, will return to our country today and will remain concentrated in a hotel in the city of Buenos Aires, waiting for Monday’s away game against Estudiantes, in La Plata, for the sixth date of the Zone B of the Professional League Cup.

Gerardo Tata Martino, the coach of Inter Miami, as well as an unavoidable symbol of the history of Newell’s, experienced it in a special way. “We try to enjoy this match because we see a lot of happy people. For me it is very special, because of my connection with Newell’s”acknowledged the Rosario coach, 62 years old.

Messi and his childhood, from Inter Miami to Newell’s, an intimate journey through his life…@InterMiami

As it was learned, Leo is recovering from an inflammation in the adductor, he does not have an injury that warrants rest and he would arrive in optimal condition for the first match of the Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season, scheduled for Wednesday the 21st against Royal Salt Lake.

The veteran coach asked the Parque fans for a favor: “Let them enjoy this possibility of playing an international friendly against Inter Miami, I know that the Rosario classic is coming…” he warned, in reference to the effervescent duel, scheduled for the Sunday the 25th, at the stadium “Marcelo Bielsa”perhaps, the ultimate symbol of the leper entity.

Messi played an hour in Inter Miami’s last preseason friendly before the start of the MLSCHANDAN KHANNA – AFP

Ever Banega, at 35 years old, refused to return to Boca, precisely because of the passion of his feeling. He is in Newell’s and he performed in front of Messi, a team member (one of many). “I hope Lionel will ever wear the Newell’s jersey officially. We know that it is very difficult for it to happen, but it is a dream we have. Leo’s best legacy is that everyone wants to play with him. He has earned everything based on his efforts,” he insisted. The reunion on the grass, some time later, is already a memory that will last a lifetime.

The story goes that when he was six years old, the golden boy signed his name for the first time as a soccer player. It was on a Newell’s card, that he gave him free rein to be part of the teams of the club’s training divisions in the Rosarina Football Association. The story lasted about five years as a player on the “most popular” team on youth playing fields.

The goal in sight, everything ready… but Messi’s free kick went just wideRICH STORRY – GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA

In that period, statisticians say, He played 176 games and scored 234 goals, according to experts from the Rosarina Football Association. The ’87 category, the team that Leo was part of, was a machine. Practically invincible, according to his own teammates at number 10. It is believed that they went two and a half years without losing a game.

Then, the flight to Barcelona. And the story so well known. Until this reunion on a Thursday night in Florida.

THE NATION

Themes

NewellsLionel MessiInter MiamiGerardo MartinoEver Banega

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