Lionel Messi has been tipped for a sensational return to Newell's Old Boys with the club's vice-president admitting 'time might allow' it.
The 33-year-old has dominated football with Barcelona over the last decade and become one of the world's best players.
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He is expected to sign a new contract with the La Liga outfit but Old Boys chief Cristian D'Amico has stated he 'hopes' Messi makes an emotional return to his boyhood club before he retires.
"I don't know if it's impossible," D'Amico told TNT Sports.
"It's a decision exclusively made by him and his family. We have to have the best possible context to help make a decision.
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"When [Diego] Maradona came to Newell's, nobody thought that he would come either. I hope to do something similar with Leo."
Messi played for the Argentine side as a young child before being snapped up by Barca at age 14 in 2000.
D'Amico went on to add: "Obviously, that's not to be selling smoke. It's a difficult topic.
"What Newell's fan would not dream to see the best player in the world with the jersey of their team on? Time might allow such things, you have to be calm."
Despite Messi's past claims of wanting a 'dream' return, he stated last year that he now has a family that is 'ahead of his desire.'
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"I always say that I don't want to leave here, I have no thoughts of moving," the six-time Ballon d'Or winner told TyC Sports per Goal.
"I have the dream of being able to play for Newell's in Argentina, but I don't know if it's really going to happen because I have a family that is ahead of my desire.
"It's a dream I've had since I was little, but I have a family, I have three children, I live in a place that has given me everything and where I am calm and can give my children a spectacular future.
"We think much more about that than my desire of playing football in Argentina.
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"I will try to convince the family, because today we have to convince the children too."
Messi scored his 700th career goal in a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday as Barca lost ground on Real Madrid in the title race.
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