A small piece of paper for an incredible amount of money!
It is an auction of superlatives. Superstar Lionel Messi (36)’s first contract – signed on a paper napkin – goes under the hammer. This is reported by the Spanish newspaper “La Vanguardia”.
Starting price: 350,000 euros!
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It was sealed on the famous napkin in 2000 that Messi would move to FC Barcelona. Messi was only 13 years old at the time!
The piece of paper belongs to player agent Horacio Gaggioli, who was involved in the mediation at the time. He had offered the napkin to FC Barcelona. The club wanted them in the club museum. But both parties could not come to an agreement, it is said.
The first Messi contract was signed in a Spanish restaurant in 2000
Foto: picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Now Barça will have to dig deep into their pockets for the napkin!
The auction will take place at the British auction house Bonhams. A specific date is not yet known.
Messi had an incomparable career at FC Barcelona, here with former coach Pep Guardiola at an away game in Munich in May 2015
Photo: AFP
How did the Messi deal work back then?
The then sporting director of FC Barcelona, Carles Rexach, quickly scribbled a few lines on the napkin on December 14, 2000. It was a declaration of intent to sign Messi, who was then 13 years old.
A deal with risks: Messi was only 1.40 meters tall at the time, suffered from growth disorders and needed appropriate hormone treatment. That’s why Barça was initially skeptical about signing the slight boy from Rosario, Argentina. The negotiations are said to have dragged on for months. Messi’s father Jorge became impatient as time went on.
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Finally the breakthrough: Father Jorge met Barça sporting director Rexach one last time in the restaurant of a tennis club. Messi’s dad made it clear again that he wanted to offer his son to FC Barcelona – and Rexach sealed the deal on the napkin.
Messi then played for Barça for around 20 years, winning 35 titles and scoring 672 goals. Because the heavily indebted club could no longer afford Messi, he had to move on to Paris in 2021. The 2022 world champion and eight-time world footballer now plays for Inter Miami.
2024-02-01 14:01:41
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