Lionel Messi has admitted his family may come in the way of a dream return to Newell's Old Boys.
The 32-year-old has previously announced his desire to end his career in Argentina for the club he played for in his youth.
But the Barcelona captain is aware that there are other factors at play when deciding on his next move, particularly his eldest son.
"I always said I don't want to leave Barcelona, I don't have the idea of leaving," he told TyC Sports . "I have the dream of being able to play at Newell's in Argentine football, but I don't know if realistically it will happen, because I have a family that comes before my desire.
"It's a reality I dreamed of since I was little but I have a family, I have three children, I live in a place that gave me everything and where I am calm, and I can give my kids a spectacular future. We think much more about that than my desire to play in Argentine football.
"I'll try to convince the family, because now you have to convince the kids too. Thiago is big now, he's got his friends and he doesn't like it at all when we go to Argentina for a month, he wants to be with his friends and it's all harder."
Messi has a clause activated in his contract at the Nou Camp which allows him to leave for free at the beginning of any season should he wish.
And despite continuing to operate at a high level, he has conceded it is getting harder to perform week-in week-out.
Speaking earlier this month he said: "It is difficult because your mind is fine; you think that you are 25 years old and that you can continue doing the same things [as before] at the time.
"But the body rules and there are circumstances in which you have to be more careful than before. Adapting to it requires a process and preparing differently for training and matches."
