The auction of the napkin that contains Lionel Messi's first contract with FC Barcelona It started last Wednesday with a starting price of 300,000 pounds sterling, equivalent to 348,000 euros, according to sports media.
Apparently this is a new attempt to sell the napkin, carefully guarded by Horacio Gaggioli, the agent who brought Messi, at only 13 years old, to sign with the iconic Spanish club.
The napkin dates from December 2000, and represents the commitment of a contract with Barcelona and was signed in blue pen by Carlos Rexach, then sports director of the 'Blaugrana'.
The online auction, organized by the Bonhams house, will run from last Wednesday, May 8 at 12:00 UK time until next May 17.
“This is one of the most exciting objects I have ever owned. Yes, it is a paper napkin, but it is the most famous napkin and it was the beginning of Messi's career," he said in a statement. Ian Ehling, head of books and manuscripts at Bonhams in New York.
For its part, The text on the napkin reads::
"In Barcelona, on December 14, 2000 and in the presence of Messrs. Minguella and Horacio, Carles Rexach, technical secretary of FC Barcelona, undertakes under his responsibility and despite some contrary opinions to sign the player Lionel Messi as long as when we remain within the agreed quantities.”
Last February, the Spanish newspaper The vanguard announced an auction of the same napkin between March 18 and 27.
They added that football fans and collectors were anxiously awaiting the auction of what they consider a historical object that forever changed the history of FC Barcelona and the career of the then teenager Lio Messi.
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