Newell's Old Boys fans are hoping to persuade wantaway Barcelona star Lionel Messi to return to the club.

Messi sent shockwaves throughout football on Tuesday after informing Spanish giants Barcelona, via fax, that he wants to leave the club on a free transfer this summer.

Manchester City are front-runners for his signature but Newell's fans certainly haven't given up hope of the six-time Ballon d'Or winner coming back to his boyhood club - where he spent his youth between 1994 and 2000.

The club's supporters flocked to the streets of Rosario in their numbers to put on a colourful parade in their bid to tempt Messi back to Argentina.

'Your dream, our desire', was a recurring slogan spotted as the supporters let off red and black flares and proudly waved the flag aloft while donning multiple forms of Messi merchandise in what was an electric atmosphere.