Messi looks increasingly likely to leave Barca in the coming weeks after falling out with the club's hierarchy, and took another step towards the exit door on Sunday failed to return to work on Sunday for the club's mandatory coronavirus testing sessions.
"You are in our hearts and we have never seen you play in our country. Give us the pleasure of ending your career with Newell's Old Boys, your club," Fernandez said, according to the Daily Mirror.
Messi started his footballing journey with Newell's as a young child in 2007, before joining Barcelona at the age of 12, and has since become the club's all-time leading goalscorer with a remarkable 634 goals in 731 appearances.
Rodrigo (Valencia to Leeds United)
Oscar Rodriguez (Real Madrid to Sevilla)
Eberechi Eze (QPR to Crystal Palace)
Aaron Ramsdale (Bournemouth to Sheffield United)
Rafinha (Flamengo to Olympiaos)
Jeff Hendrick (Burnley to Newcastle United)
Caio Henrique (Atletico Madrid to AS Monaco)
Valentino Lazaro (Inter Milan to Borussia Monchengladbach - loan)
Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolverhampton Wanders loaned to Swansea City)
Bernard Mensah (Kayrispor loaned to Besiktas)
Joel Pereira (Manchester United to Huddersfield Town -loan)