The precious manuscript resurfaces 24 years after a decisive lunch and has been sold at auction in Paris since Monday.
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When football history is written on a napkin. It is on this piece of fabric that the first promise of a contract between FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi was inscribed, in 2000. Nearly 24 years later, the manuscript is sold at auction from Monday March 18 until ‘to March 27. The auctions take place on the internet, the napkin is on display at Bonhams in Paris. The low estimate is 350,000 euros.
On December 14, 2000, young Lionel was 13 years old but his future was already at the center of a table in Catalonia. Josep Minguella and Carles Rexach of FC Barcelona have already waited too long before enlisting this gifted Argentinian with the ball. In front of them, agent Horacio Gaggioli obtains what he came to Catalonia for: a promise of a contract for his little genius.
“It wasn’t won because Messi wasn’t very tall, recalls Sabine Cornette de Saint-Cyr, responsible for the exhibition at Bonhams Paris. So it almost didn’t happen. And it was really Carles Rexach who brought everyone together around the table. And not having any papers at hand, he asked the waiter to bring him a napkin.”
An original work
The eight lines written in blue ink on the fabric were carefully preserved by Horacio Gaggioli, until being exhibited in a window in Paris. Serge admires the napkin but he won’t raise the stakes. “I would have a copy, I would like that. I think it’s good to have originals. And then, it’s also good to duplicate so that even the public can make it their own.”
The unique work attracts football fans and intrigues passing art enthusiasts, like Bertrand: “It also shows the importance of football schools, it’s a very good example of successful club life. And Barça was still a great example of world class”, he analyzes. Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi brought four Champions Leagues and 10 Spanish championships to FC Barcelona, and it all started with a good meal.