Will Lionel Messi play in Maxi Rodriguez’s farewell match? This is how the party and the operation will be
Rosario is intrigued. One half, the one that beats in red and black, does it more intensely, but the other half, the one that breathes in the opposite vertex with shades of blue and yellow, is also expectant. Although at one point they converge, as soccer will probably converge this Saturday in a party that promises to be unforgettable in the Coloso del Parque Independencia, in the Marcelo Bielsa stadium. In the city that claims to be the seedbed of the greatest players and currently no less than world champions, will bid farewell to one of the greatest idols of the last decades: Maximiliano Rodriguez. La Fiera, who left the professional activity at the end of 2021, will have his celebration for the road he has traveled with a more than particular spice: the presence of Lionel Messi is expected, with a lot of strength and security protocol. Everything indicates that Leo will be there to greet his friend from Newell’s and the Argentine national team, even on his 36th birthday. In this sense, the authorities ask for special attention from those who attend.
Lionel Messi and Maxi Rodríguez with the shirt of Newell’s, the birthplace of both of them
For several days the 10 and captain of the Albiceleste has been at his home in one of the private neighborhoods of Funes, 15 kilometers away from Rosario. And, already on vacation, his presence there makes all the public who bought a ticket for Maxi’s farewell look forward to seeing him there. Or simply to all those who dream of seeing him someday officially stepping on the leprosa field, in an illusion that Leo himself once nurtured. While La Pulga was playing the first match of the FIFA tour and date in Asia and against Australia, in Argentina, Juan Román Riquelme announced his confirmed presence for the farewell match that he will also play, in this case at the Bombonera and on Sunday. That is: the day after Maxi’s party. The speculation, then, arises immediately: if Leo is going to attend Román’s farewell, why wouldn’t he attend his close friend from Rosario, the one from the same leprosy and national team cradle?
The expectation is extremely high: not only because of what Maxi implies in the city, but also because of all the guests that the party will have. And in this case, there is an underlying question that, when it emerges, also invites us to believe that soccer is not only two teams divided by the color of a jersey: there are idols that transcend them. Maxi, la Fiera, is one of them. Everyone respects him. Although the previous match adds this particularity: the possible presence of Lionel, who has already been to the park to play, for example, in one of the solidarity matches between “Los Amigos de Maxi” vs. If he already caused a revolution in 2009, what he can generate at this moment and as a world champion is difficult to measure. For this reason, everything has been thought about the possibility of his attendance.
The match itself between Newell’s and the national team, because that is how the teams of Maxi’s party will be identified, will start at 19.15 (two periods of 40 minutes), although from 16 there will be strong movement, so the public is also recommended to arrive early to take place once the doors open at that time. There will be music shows and fan fest from early in the morning in the vicinity of the stadium, immersed in a strong operation before the arrival of the invited figures (including the coaching staff of the world champion team in Qatar 2022). Most of them would arrive in the same bus and would arrive at the stadium around 4:45 pm: they would have some time to talk to the press.
The “Leo operation” is kept under seven keys, they avoid giving details but the authorities in charge warn: “We are prepared in case he (Leo) comes”. Details are avoided, but also since a few days ago the area of the court is fenced with phenolics and fencing to prevent the access of curious people. And for security. Sources close to the organization even assure that there are fewer signs of the presence of the other Rosarino world champion from Qatar, Ángel Di María (the third one is Ángel Correa), fully identified with Rosario Central. LA NACION consulted a probable program for the party and confirmed it as “correct, standard, although it will have some small modifications”. It reads: “Minute 10 gift Maxi”. Will it be the 10 Lionel? And another piece of information: if he goes, the Pulga will be part of the Argentine national team. To see him with the Newell’s team, we may have to wait for another opportunity.
Maxi, on the other hand, gave a lot of notes during the week to promote his match. When asked about the confirmation of Messi at Román’s farewell, he was categorical when talking about his own: “I take care of my friends, they all have the invitation”.
“The operation is planned, organized, and foreseen, we have no confirmations at this time (Friday afternoon), there are many versions but we are preparing as if they were coming, it is an event in which there is not only a match, but there will be a games sector, a small gastronomic pole and merchandising sales in the corridor surrounding the stadium”, explained Claudio Brilloni, Minister of Security of the province of Santa Fe to this newspaper, while he added that not only the stadium area but also the airport, hotels and streets surrounding the Coloso will be worked on. With this caveat: “This does not have to affect the security of the city”, just in such a special and sensitive moment as the one Rosario is going through. A total of 1,100 troops will be deployed and a whole access system will be set up. To look for a comparison, it is something more than the operation used for the last classic between Unión and Colón in the provincial capital, for the Professional League and evaluated as “risky” (1000 troops).
In the event that Messi participates in the party, the operation will not be extended: “In case (his presence) takes place, the form will be determined and it will be agreed with Lionel’s private security and the family’s environment”, said Brilloni, who insisted on this message: “We are asking (and thanking) the people to arrive at the stadium in time, we foresee a full stadium and with a lot of work around by inspectors, street closures and camera control”.
Maxi Rodríguez, who has had a brilliant career in professional soccer wearing the colors of Newell’s (three seasons), Espanyol de Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Liverpool and Peñarol and the Argentine national team. A Lepra’s idol, he retired with the shirt of his beloved club at the end of 2021, at the age of 40. This Saturday, from 5 pm, he will have his party that will start with music shows (DJ’s, Los Totora, Kapanga) and will have light shows, videos and the presence of La Sole, in addition to the match between top level figures, friends of his long career.
A few days ago, the former soccer player himself confirmed the attendance of Lionel Scaloni, Pablo Aimar, Walter Samuel, Javier Saviola, Andrés D’Alessandro, Leonardo Ponzio, David Trezeguet, Fabricio Coloccini, Javier Lux, Juan Pablo Sorín, Ignacio Scocco, Ariel Ortega, Esteban Cambiasso, Gerardo Martino and José Pekerman (coaches). Former captain of the Leonas Luciana Aymar and Mariana Larroquette, a member of the women’s national soccer team, among others, will also be present. On Friday, Sergio Kun Agüero is expected to arrive. The rest, to be confirmed. Maxi’s celebration will be broadcasted live on Star+.
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