President’s emotional message to Messi

Argentina's president Alberto Fernandez has called on Lionel Messi to return to his homeland and end his career with Newell's Old Boys.

"You are in our hearts and we have never seen you play in our country," Fernandez said in a message directed at Messi via C5N.

"Give us the pleasure of ending your career with Newell's Old Boys, your club."Fernandez, who supports Buenos Aires side Argentinos Juniors, went on to admit he remains a bigger fan of Diego Maradona.

"The great merit of Maradona is that he played alone against the world," Fernandez said. "I've never seen a player like Maradona. 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."