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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"channelId":"92686d1e-5985-40e1-80f3-6f5a54f55b39","competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Messi signed first Barcelona contract in 2000</li><li>Agreement written on napkin</li><li>Item to be sold at auction in March</li></ul>

Lionel Messi's first-ever Barcelona contract - famously scrawled on a napkin - set to go to auction as Blaugrana pass up on chance to display it club museum

LaLiga

Celta Vigo

Barcelona

The deal was struck between the Catalan giants, Argentine player agent Horacio Gaggioli and Messi's then-representative Josep Maria Minguella on December 14, 2000, with Blaugrana director Carles Rexach famously taking the decision to write down the contractual words on a napkin. Now, privately-owned auction house Bonhams will run the auction of said contract in London between March 18 and 27 on behalf of Gaggioli. The starting price will be £300,000 ($381,000).

WHAT HAPPENED?

The contract represents a seminal moment in <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronald-lionel-messi-inter-miami-al-nassr/blt841e15f8b42c4949" target="_blank">Messi's career</a> - and a historic one for the world of football - but its origin story is certainly unusual. According to <a href="https://theathletic.com/5241184/2024/01/31/lionel-messi-barcelona-napkin-auction/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=twitterfc&amp;source=twitteruk" target="_blank">The Athletic</a>, Rexach's decision to scrawl the words on a napkin came after Gaggioli informed him of interest from Real Madrid. Barcelona had been reluctant to sign Messi despite his impressive two-week trial with the Blaugrana. A meeting was then set up with Messi's representatives but Rexach was unable to draw up a contract in paper form, and so he went about writing a document that would be legally binding in the most unorthodox of ways.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ian Ehling, head of fine books and manuscripts at Bonhams New York, said of the opportunity to auction such a historic footballing piece: "This is one of the most thrilling items I have ever handled. Yes, it’s a paper napkin, but it’s the famous napkin that was at the inception of Lionel Messi’s career. It changed the life of Messi, the future of FC Barcelona, and was instrumental in giving some of the most glorious moments of football to billions of fans around the globe.”

WHAT BONHAMS SAID

Messi's first-ever contract had been in the possession of Minguella for many years, and he told Catalunya Radio on Wednesday that he had offered it to Barcelona to display in the club's museum. However, after receiving no response from the Catalan club, Minguella elected to send the contract off for auction. He says he will donate the money raised to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/xavi-join-lionel-barcelona-reunion-outgoing-blaugrana-boss-contact-inter-miami-report-open-mls-challenge/blt394ae1893755fab3" target="_blank">Barcelona</a>'s foundation.

WHAT NEXT?

Lionel Messi's first-ever Barcelona contract - famously scrawled on a napkin - set to go to auction as Blaugrana pass up on chance to display it club museum | Goal.com

Lionel Messi&apos;s first contract with Barcelona, which was written on a napkin back in 2000, will be sold at auction later this year.

Lionel Messi&apos;s first-ever Barcelona contract - famously scrawled on a napkin - set to go to auction as Blaugrana pass up on chance to display it club museum