Napkin Used to Secure Messi’s Barcelona Move Set to be Auctioned

The story behind the napkin that famously launched Lionel Messi’s career at Barcelona as a 13-year-old is a fascinating piece of football history. The napkin, which played a crucial role in securing Messi’s future at the club, will now be auctioned off in March, with a starting price of £300,000.

The napkin was hastily put together by Carles Rexach, Barcelona’s director of football, when Messi’s father began to doubt the club’s commitment to his son in 2000. It was signed by Rexach, along with other key figures who helped bring Messi over from South America, and served as a promise for a first contract.

For over two decades, the napkin remained under the ownership of Horacio Gaggioli, the Argentine agent who helped broker the deal, and was secured in a vault in Andorra. Negotiations to incorporate it into Barça’s museum broke down in the past, and now it will be made available to private bidders by British auction house Bonhams.

Ian Ehling, the Head of Fine Books and Manuscripts at Bonhams New York, expressed his excitement about handling such a thrilling item, stating that “it changed the life of Messi, the future of Barça and was instrumental in giving some of the most glorious moments of football to billions of fans around the globe.”

The significance of this napkin lies in the fact that it played a pivotal role in securing Messi’s future at Barcelona, leading him to become the club’s greatest ever player. With over 20 years at the club, Messi made history by making more appearances and scoring more goals than anyone else who has played for Barcelona. He also achieved numerous accolades, including winning 10 LaLiga titles, seven Copas del Rey, and four Champions League trophies during his time at the club.

Overall, the napkin represents a key moment in football history that changed the course of Messi’s career and left an indelible mark on the sport. Its auction will undoubtedly attract significant interest from football enthusiasts and collectors around the world.
The photograph captures the iconic napkin that played a pivotal role in launching Lionel Messi’s illustrious career at Barcelona when he was a mere 13-year-old. The napkin, bearing the signatures of Carles Rexach, Josep Minguella, and Horacio Gaggioli, will go under the hammer in March with a starting bid of £300,000 ($382,150). This significant artifact, which has been safeguarded in a vault in Andorra, will be made available to private bidders by the esteemed British auction house, Bonhams. The historical significance of this napkin cannot be overstated, as it represents the defining moment that set Messi on the path to becoming one of the greatest footballers of all time. With a prolific record at Barcelona and numerous accolades to his name, Messi’s legacy is indelibly linked to this seemingly ordinary yet extraordinary napkin.