Argentina's president Alberto Fernandez has urged Lionel Messi to make a sensational return to his homeland and finish his career at his former youth team club Newell's Old Boys.
The 33-year-old stunned the world of football last week by informing Barcelona of his intentions to move on this summer following a turbulent season at the Nou Camp.
He has been most strongly linked with a move to Manchester City, where he would link up with his previous manager Pep Guardiola again.
But some believe he could be tempted with going back to Newell's, who he represented at youth level between 1994-2000 before making the move to Spain at the age of just 13.
And speaking on Argentinean TV channel C5N, Fernandez said in a message directed at Messi: "You are in our hearts and we have never seen you play in our country.
"Give us the pleasure of ending your career with Newell's Old Boys, your club."
Many football fans in Argentina naturally compare Messi with the legendary Diego Maradona, and Fernandez admitted he admired the latter more due to the fact he graduated from the team he supports, Argentinos Junior.
"The great merit of Maradona is that he played alone against the world," Fernandez added. "I've never seen a player like Maradona.
Is there any chance of Messi returning to Argentina this summer? Have your say below.
"I admire him deeply - more than Messi, to be honest, because he comes from the Argentinos' youth. He was a kind of gladiator, with incredible strength."
Newell's fans held a spectacular parade on the streets of Rosario on Thursday in the hope of showing Messi how much it would mean for them for him to move to the club.
Club vice-president Cristian D'Amico told TyC Sports: "Maradona came and everyone believed it was impossible. What Newell's fan doesn't have the dream to see the greatest in our shirt?"
