The napkin upon which Lionel Messi’s first Barcelona agreement was informally written has gone on sale at auction.
Bonhams — a privately owned, London-based international auction house — are running the auction until May 17, with a starting price of £220,000 ($274.55k), on behalf of Argentine player agent Horacio Gaggioli.
Advertisement
The agreement was reached on December 14, 2000, with Barcelona director Carles Rexach desperate for the club to sign Messi, then aged 13.
Messi had impressed during his two-week trial with Barcelona in September 2000, but the club was initially reluctant to sign such a young, non-European player.
Rexach became concerned that the Catalan club would miss out on the signing of Messi,
→ Continue reading at The New York Times Sports
