The napkin that guaranteed Lionel Messi's move to Barcelona will be auctioned and it has a starting price of £300,000 but the important artifacts will obviously be sold to the highest bidder.
Messi's transfer from Argentina to Barcelona's La Masia academy as a 12-year-old began with an iconic commitment to sign the youngster being made on a paper napkin at a restaurant.
Lionel Messi, now at the twilight of his career, is currently playing for Inter Miami and he has had a magnificent career thus far.
His time at Barcelona was exemplary as he etched his name as a legend of the club and one of the greatest players in football history.
The initial napkin that is printed with blue ink and is signed by the individuals responsible for Messi moving to the Blaugrana side will be auctioned by Bonhams - a privately owned international auction house.
Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli is the current holder of the delicate and notable piece of sports memorabilia.
An online auction will run from the 18th to the 27th of March 2024, and as aforementioned, it signified Barcelona's commitment to offer Messi a contract as an academy player.
Messi's move to the Spanish side began when Barcelona had been informed about his potential when he was playing as a youngster in the youth teams of local side Newell's Old Boys.
Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi, worked as a supervisor at a steel mill at the time while his mother, Celia, also worked in a factory.
However, it looked like Messi was always cut for football and he has indeed etched his name in the history of the sport.
After Barcelona had scouted Lionel Messi in his hometown in Argentina, the 36-year-old and his father were flown to Spain for a trial.
Subsequently, there was growing concern amongst some senior members at the club that the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner wasn't tall enough to flourish as a professional footballer.
Just as negotiations for the player looked to be dragging, Messi's father, Jorge, met with the then Barcelona's Sporting Director, Carles Rexach - a longstanding player and coach for the club.
The Argentine also met Josep Minguella, who was Barcelona's transfer advisor at the time.
The famous napkin which indicated the Spanish side's commitment to sign the forward measures 16.5 x 16.5cm and it read:
“In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and 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.”
The napkin was subsequently signed by all parties involved in the deal alongside Horacio Gaggioli, the Argentine agent who acquainted Barcelona with Lionel Messi.
Additionally, an official letter confirming Messi's move to the Catalan-based club was also signed that evening by then-club president Joan Gaspart.
Messi had a 17-year outstanding career with the first team of Barcelona, winning several trophies, including; 12 League titles - 10 La Liga, 2 Ligue 1, 4 UEFA Champions Leagues, and 3 FIFA Club World Cup titles to mention but a few.
Lionel Messi exited the La Liga champions in the summer of 2021, following the club's difficulty in meeting his wage demands.
Messi's transfer from Argentina to Barcelona's La Masia academy as a 12-year-old began with an iconic commitment to sign the youngster being made on a paper napkin at a restaurant.
Lionel Messi, now at the twilight of his career, is currently playing for Inter Miami and he has had a magnificent career thus far.
His time at Barcelona was exemplary as he etched his name as a legend of the club and one of the greatest players in football history.
The initial napkin that is printed with blue ink and is signed by the individuals responsible for Messi moving to the Blaugrana side will be auctioned by Bonhams - a privately owned international auction house.
Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli is the current holder of the delicate and notable piece of sports memorabilia.
An online auction will run from the 18th to the 27th of March 2024, and as aforementioned, it signified Barcelona's commitment to offer Messi a contract as an academy player.
Messi's move to the Spanish side began when Barcelona had been informed about his potential when he was playing as a youngster in the youth teams of local side Newell's Old Boys.
Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi, worked as a supervisor at a steel mill at the time while his mother, Celia, also worked in a factory.
However, it looked like Messi was always cut for football and he has indeed etched his name in the history of the sport.
After Barcelona had scouted Lionel Messi in his hometown in Argentina, the 36-year-old and his father were flown to Spain for a trial.
Subsequently, there was growing concern amongst some senior members at the club that the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner wasn't tall enough to flourish as a professional footballer.
Just as negotiations for the player looked to be dragging, Messi's father, Jorge, met with the then Barcelona's Sporting Director, Carles Rexach - a longstanding player and coach for the club.
The Argentine also met Josep Minguella, who was Barcelona's transfer advisor at the time.
The famous napkin which indicated the Spanish side's commitment to sign the forward measures 16.5 x 16.5cm and it read:
“In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and 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.”
The napkin was subsequently signed by all parties involved in the deal alongside Horacio Gaggioli, the Argentine agent who acquainted Barcelona with Lionel Messi.
Additionally, an official letter confirming Messi's move to the Catalan-based club was also signed that evening by then-club president Joan Gaspart.
Messi had a 17-year outstanding career with the first team of Barcelona, winning several trophies, including; 12 League titles - 10 La Liga, 2 Ligue 1, 4 UEFA Champions Leagues, and 3 FIFA Club World Cup titles to mention but a few.
Lionel Messi exited the La Liga champions in the summer of 2021, following the club's difficulty in meeting his wage demands.