"Barça official Carles Reixas, spurred by Messi's Newell Old Boys prowess, initially signed his contract on a napkin, now up for auction. Football enthusiasts and collectors eagerly anticipate the chance to acquire historic items from their favorite players."

Spurred on by Newell Old Boys' Messi prowess, Carles Reixas, a Barça official, first signed the contract with napkin paper without actually receiving the paper. The document was kept safe for a very long time. At last, it's going up for auction. The good news is that items used by their favorite football players are up for auction, catering to the interests of those who enjoy collecting sports historical items or antiques. Such people may have been waiting for this auction for a long time.

Signing this historic napkin paper, Messi moved to Barcelona's youth academy. Today's world star 'Messi' came from there. The Napkin Paper Auction will be held at Bonhams, a traditional British auction house. This auction will run from March 18 to March 27. The napkin paper is estimated to sell for 3 lakh to 5 lakh British pounds.

In 2000, Barcelona talent scout José María Minguela discovered a 12-year-old boy playing for Newell's Old Boys, a club based in Rosario, Argentina. He is the witness of this extraordinary talent.

Photo: Collected

Messi's big problem. He had a growth hormone problem. Without treatment, he will not grow physically. But this treatment is expensive. $900 per month was required at that time. The famous Buenos Aires club River Plate discovered Messi's talent. They also wanted to make a deal. But seeing that it is not possible to cover his medical expenses with such expenses, Riverplate backed out.

Lionel Messi had a trial with his father Jorge Messi at Barca in September 2000. They were accompanied by Argentine representatives Fabian Soldini and Martín Montero, and Spanish representative Horacio Gaggioli. He surprised everyone. Everyone is surprised to see the potential of Messi. Messi and Rosario returned to Barcelona in the hope of signing a contract.

Barcelona president Juan Gaspart thought it would be risky to sign the boy in a hurry. But Gaggioli issued a veiled threat to move Messi to another club, even Real Madrid if a deal was not reached quickly.

Three months later, on December 14, 2000. Gaggioli was playing tennis with Carles Rexus, former Barca footballer and technical secretary, at the Pompei del Monteuche club. After the game sat down to have lunch in the cafeteria of the club. They were then joined by talent hunt scout Jose Maria Minguela. Minguella and Gaggioli manage to convince Rexus that Messi is a great talent.

And hearing them, Rexis took a square piece of napkin paper. "On December 14, 2000, in Barcelona, These words were signed by Rexus, Minguella, and Gaggioli. A week later, Rexus and Gaggioli notarized the agreement. That paper was carefully preserved by Gaggioli. This is Barca's first commitment to Messi. Barca wanted to keep the napkin paper in the museum

 

Horacio Gaggioli wanted the napkin paper to be preserved in a museum in Barcelona. Many wanted to get the paper from him in exchange for lakhs of rupees. But Gaggioli said, 'This napkin should be preserved in Barca's museum. That piece of handkerchief changed the club's modern history.