He signed a handkerchief Messi's first contractual promise with Barcelona was offered for sale at auction

Lionel Messi's first contractual promise with FC Barcelona is currently on display in New York on a paper napkin in 2000, where it has become a small part of football history, before it will soon be sold at auction.

Against the background of the enthusiasm of collectors of shirts and souvenirs of sporting legends, Bonhams Auctions estimates the value of the piece at between 300,000 and 500,000 British pounds (approximately 380,000 to 635,000 dollars).

The story of the little handkerchief has been told many times in the biography of “Leo” Messi, one of the best players in football history who today plays for the American club Inter Miami.

Messi was born in 1987 in the popular circles of the city of Rosario in Argentina. He was 13 years old when Barcelona discovered him, but not everyone in the Blaugrana club was convinced of his qualifications and the case continued, which caused the player’s father to become impatient until this meeting, on December 14, 2000, in One of the tennis clubs in Barcelona, ​​between the Catalan club's sporting director, Carles Reczak, and the two agents, Josep Minghia and Horacio Gagioli.

To confirm FC Barcelona's interest, Carles Reczak wrote at the time in blue ink, on a simple napkin, that he "accepts, under his responsibility and despite any differing opinions, to contract with the player Lionel Messi, on the condition that the amounts agreed upon are respected."

A formal contract was later concluded, but this initial proof of the agreement had been kept by Argentine agent Gagioli for almost 25 years and who decided to sell it at auction.

Messi won the Spanish Championship 10 times with Barcelona, ​​where he played until 2021, and the Champions League 4 times.