Lionel Messi news: La Liga expert Guillem Balagué reveals which will be Messi's next club if he chooses not to retire at Barcelona

The Argentine continues to inspire Barcelona from glory to glory

What's next?

FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has been tipped to return to his boyhood club in Argentina, Newell's Old Boys, in case he ever decides to part ways with the club that's been part of his life for over 15 years, by reputed Spanish football journalist, author and pundit, Guillem Balagué.

The Spanish football expert revealed his take on Messi's future on his Youtube channel earlier today. He also said that the player will not even consider moving to another big club in Europe after his stint at the Nou Camp, where he has a contract until 2021.

In case you didn't know...

Balague is a world-renowned author who has written the biographies of some of the greatest personalities in football, which include Messi, Juventus ace Cristiano Ronaldo and Pep Guardiola.

Messi is a lifelong supporter of Newell's Old Boys. He joined the Rosario club when he was six years old. Then, he moved to Barcelona in 2001 only because of his struggles with the growth hormone deficiency, for which the Catalans had agreed to pay all the treatment costs.

He was offered his first contract with the club, famously on a paper napkin.

The heart of the matter...

The 31-year-old superstar has been integral to Los Blaugrana's success over the last two decades and it will be difficult to imagine a Barcelona side without him.

Just earlier this year, Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu had claimed that imagining a life without their all-time top scorer is impossible for him, but he is aware that the player won't stay with them forever. He said:

"At the moment we cannot imagine it[Messi leaving], but we have to prepare for it."

And now Balague reckons this season's leading goalscorer in Europe has still got plenty of time left to create even more history with the Spanish champions. He said:

"I’d say he’s still got four or five years at Barcelona, and he won’t move to another club in Europe.”

“He had this dream of going to Newell’s Old Boys at some point late in his career."

Messi had himself conceded last year that he might bring an end to his illustrious career in Argentina with La Lepra. He told Argentine television station El Trece:

“It would be at Newell’s, nowhere else. I would like to do that for at least six months, but you never know what will happen.”

What's next?

Having won the La Liga for the 10th time last week, Messi would now have his eyes set on claiming the UEFA Champions League crown with his team this season.

But before he can do that, Messi & co. must overcome the challenge of Liverpool in the last four of the tournament, first leg of which takes place at the Nou Camp tonight.