The 'crazy' amount that has been paid at auction for Messi's first contract with Barça

The signing of Lionel Messi by the FC Barcelona finish being an operation that changed the history of the Barcelona club, and also of the own football, and all was possible, of legal way, thanks to the famous napkin that turned into the first official bond between both parts. Precisely that 'document' so important was auctioned this Friday by a price of 762 one thousand 400 pounds (890 one thousand euros), in the house of British auctions Bonhams.

This document turned into a precontrato in which the youngster Leo joined to the Catalan team, when had grieve 13 years and was an interesting promise that had arrived to the City Condal to do a proof. This agreement formalised in a napkin, during a dinner of businesses, does almost 25 years, being later a formal agreement and opening one of the big histories of this sport.

A history that remained sealed in the most unexpected document

Regarding the transaction, in a first moment did not reveal the percentage retained by the house of auctions related with the available price and the administrative prices of the auction on line. Bonhams Said that the auction was for Horace Gaggioli, the one who in that moment served like the agent of Messi and that had an important paper so that the Barça could close the agreement.

The text, written with blue ink, went a way in which the Catalan directive ensured him to the father of the Argentinian footballer that the agreement would concretise . The measure was a desperate movement to retain it, as the Messi had loomed with going back to Argentina due to the fact that the negotiations were stagnated, by what there was not time to do it of a more formal way.

The napkin was signed on 14 December 2000 and is signed by Gaggioli, Josep Maria Minguella (also agent) and the then sportive director of the Barcelona, Carles Rexach. Rexach Had asked paper to a waiter and gave him a napkin in white. That decision allowed that Messi played 17 seasons in the first staff culé, winning, among others a lot of titles, the Champions League in four occasions and LaLiga in ten opportunities.