Lionel Messi is expected to line-up against his boyhood club Newell's Old Boys after the Argentine team agreed to a pre-season friendly game at Inter Miami in February.
Felicidades ME♾SI 🏆#LION8LdOr | @ballondor pic.twitter.com/cpOiFNiIjD
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) October 30, 2023
The Major League Soccer club announced on Monday that they would host Newell's at their DRV PNK Stadium on February 15.
The club from Rosario is heading to Miami 🇦🇷🏠
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) December 18, 2023
Don't miss the preseason friendly against Newell's Old Boys on February 15! Tickets go on sale on December 19 at 10 AM ET, with priority for season members. Details: https://t.co/3uunHkgunV#InterMiamiCF x @Newells pic.twitter.com/idEg8imXg9
Newell's are based in the city of Rosario where Messi was born and grew up, playing for their youth team before moving to Spanish club Barcelona aged 13.
Inter coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino also hails from the city and played for the club in three spells before returning as the team's coach in 2012.
"I am delighted to welcome my beloved Newell’s to our home here in Miami. It will be a special match due to everything Newell’s Old Boys means to me," Martino said.
"It will also be a good opportunity to prepare for what will surely be an exciting season," he added.
The fixture is the latest in a busy pre-season schedule for Miami who will kick-off the preparations by facing the El Salvador national team in San Salvador on January 19.
The club will then play two games in Saudi Arabia, including against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, before games in Hong Kong and Tokyo.