Alexandre Bozio / Credits: Urbanandsport / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP 12:27 p.m., February 1, 2024

Arriving at FC Barcelona at a particularly young age, Lionel Messi signed his first contract with the Catalan club on a simple paper napkin. In March, this object, which served as a support, could be sold at auction for more than 350,000 euros. 

A piece of napkin sold for more than 350,000 and 600,000 euros? Everything is possible in the world of football. We can always say that this piece of fabric belongs to history since it concerns Lionel Messi, but the sum still seems crazy. However, this is what could happen with the next auction of the paper napkin on which the famous Argentine player signed his first contract with FC Barcelona.

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A more than symbolic object for millions of fans

To better understand the beginnings of this story, we must go back 23 years. In September 2000, young Messi was 13 years old, but already aroused excitement and hopes. After passing through Newell's Old Boys in his hometown of Rosario, he arrived in Catalonia to sign with FC Barcelona, ​​but it took time for the deal to be finalized. The representatives of the club and the father of the young prodigy finally met on December 14 of the same year in the common room of the Montjuïc tennis club located in Barcelona. All parties find common ground and insist on putting their mutual consent in writing.

Without a previously prepared contract, they end up writing this text on a paper napkin: "On December 14, 2000 in Barcelona, ​​in the presence of Mr. Minguella, Horacio and Carles Rexach, technical secretary of the club. The latter undertakes under his responsibility and despite certain divergent opinions to recruit the player Lionel Messi if a financial agreement is found. Lionel Messi's first contract with the Blaugrana club is signed. The rest is football history.

Vaya reliquia. The service was based on the fact that FC Barcelona registered with Leo Messi: it estimated a value between 350,000 and 600,000 euros. pic.twitter.com/iWbDpA5mzV

— MARCA (@marca) January 31, 2024

It is therefore this piece of paper which, according to the Argentinian daily

La Vanguardia

, will be put on sale between March 18 and 27 in London. The first estimates suggest a first price of around 350,000 euros, while the auctions could rise up to 600,000 euros. Until now, this symbolic object was held by Horacio Gaggioli, the player's former agent who was present on that fateful December 14 which changed the future of FC Barcelona.