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The Argentine great Lionel Messi commenced his career with Barcelona as a youngster with his first unofficial contract on a paper napkin, back in the year 2000. Over two decades later, this remarkable footballing collectible is set to go under the hammer from March 18 to 27, with an opening bid of $379,000.
On behalf of Horacio Gaggioli, the Lionel Messi agent from Argentina who secured him a deal with Barcelona, the British auction house Bonhams is going to sell the napkin in an auction. Notably, the napkin, dated December 14, 2000, has the signatures of Horacio Gaggioli, another agent Josep Maria Minguella, and the Sporting Director of Barcelona at the time, Carles Rexach, who met each other at a tennis club in the Catalan city.
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“In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and in the presence of Messrs Minguella and Horacio, Carles Rexach, FC Barcelona's sporting director, hereby agrees, under his responsibility and regardless of any dissenting opinions, to sign the player Lionel Messi, provided that we keep to the amounts agreed upon," was written on the paper napkin, which was the first unofficial contract of the Argentine with Barcelona.
The agreement in principle on the napkin was intended to reassure Jorge Messi, the father of Lionel Messi, that his son will play for Barcelona.
Ian Ehling, the Head of fine books and manuscripts at Bonhams New York spoke about the significance of the footballing collectible. He was quoted as saying, “This is one of the most thrilling items I have ever handled. Yes, it's a paper napkin, but it's the famous napkin that was at the inception of Lionel Messi's career.”
“It changed the life of Messi, the future of FC Barcelona, and was instrumental in giving some of the most glorious moments of football to billions of fans around the globe,” he added.
