BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP):

The infant son of Barcelona star Lionel Messi has already been signed up as a member of Argentine club Newell's Old Boys, where Messi played at the youth level before leaving for Barcelona.

Newell's said yesterday that the membership for young Thiago, born November 2, had been initiated by Messi's grandfather, Jorge.

Lionel Messi was born in the Argentine city of Rosario, located some 300 kilometres (200 miles) northwest of Buenos Aires and remains a fan of Newell's, his hometown team.

Newell's is in the midst of one of its best seasons in memory, sitting on top of the Argentine first division under new coach Gerardo Martino. Martino coached Paraguay to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.