The napkin, considered the first contract Barca signed with superstar Lionel Messi 24 years ago, was auctioned with a starting price of 350,000 euros.
New York-based auction house Bonhams announced that the unique contract will be auctioned from March 18 to March 29. The tissue paper has a starting price of 350,000 euros and is expected to be an item that will receive many offers to own.
Content of commitment to sign a contract between representatives of Barca and Messi on a napkin in 2000. Photo: Sportsdunia
Ian Ehling – head of Books and Archives at Bonhams – says the tissue paper is one of the most interesting items he has ever handled. “Because it changed the life of the Argentine superstar and the future of Barcelona. He contributed significantly to creating the most glorious moments for billions of football fans around the world,” said Ian Ehling. .
“Messi came to Barcelona in September 2000 to try out at the academy, but we had to wait until mid-December for an agreement between Messi’s family and the team to be reached. There was no paper available at that time, so this napkin represents the first informal signing,” Bonhams’ head of Books and Archives added.
Part of the paper’s content reads: “In Barcelona, December 14, 2000, in the presence of Mr. Minguella and Mr. Horacio, Mr. Carles Rexach – Sports Director of Barcelona Club (Barca) – with his responsibilities and Despite all objections, we are committed to signing a contract with Lionel Messi, as long as the terms being negotiated reach agreement.”
The agreement on the napkin between Barca representatives and Messi was signed in the cafeteria at the Pompeia tennis club. Mr. Josep Minguella was a Barca scout at that time and was the first person to discover Messi’s talent through just a video. Mr. Horacio Gaggioli was the representative of superstar Messi from his youth until his father – Mr. Jorge – replaced this position. It took a year for Messi and Barca to sign an official contract.
Messi’s former agent – Horacio Gaggioli – kept this souvenir for decades before returning it to Bonhams auction house. He once said that the “historical piece of paper” should be placed in the Barca Museum next to Messi’s 8 Golden Balls. However, the Catalan team cannot display this item in the museum because a buyback agreement has not been reached.
Messi at 17 years old made his debut for Barca’s first team in 2004. Photo: Marca
When signing the contract, Barca also agreed to pay for treatment of Messi’s growth hormone disorder, helping him develop normally to play football. Debuting in Barca’s first team in April 2004, the 17-year-old Argentine quickly showed his talent and became a legend of the team. Having spent his entire illustrious career with Barca, Messi won all the individual and collective titles that every player dreams of. In the summer of 2021, he said goodbye to Barca in tears because the team could not renew the contract due to financial problems. Messi went to PSG and then to Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, ending 20 glorious years in Europe.
