Did you know Lionel Messi’s first Barca contract was written on a napkin? [Photos]
Football
By
Robert Abong'o
| Nov 21, 2018
No instance in world football defines urgency better than the manner in which Lionel Messi signed for Barcelona.
Messi, who has scored over 500 goals for the Blaugrana was signed at the age of 13 in 2002. His first official signature for the club was written on a napkin.
One of the world's best ever players put pen to paper using a napkin. Game Yetu stumbled upon an interesting story on European sports outlet mirror, which explained the manner in which Messi's transfer was handled.
According to an article written on the website by Darren Wells on Sunday, November 18, Barcelona's Technical Secretary Carles Rexach met Messi's representatives Horacio Gaggioli and Josep Maria Minguella for lunch in a local restaurant.
Upon reaching a deal to sign him to Barcelona, Rexach realised he had no official documents for Messi to sign on, therefore, asked restaurant attendants to provide him with a napkin so the teenage sensation, at the time, could secure his move to the Camp Nou.
Messi was still living in Rosario, Argentina, and played for Newell's Old Boys. After Gaggioili threatened to offer Messi to fierce rivals Real Madrid, Barca was forced to sign the youngster, who immediately relocated to Spain with his family.
The contract (written on a napkin) read: "In Barcelona, on December 14, 2000, in the presence of Messi. Minguella and Horacio, Carlos Rexach, Technical Secretary of F.C.B. is committed under his responsibility and despite some opinions against signing the player Lionel Messi as long as we maintain the agreed amounts."
After signing for the Catalan giants, Messi went on to make his senior debut at the age of 17 in a match against RCD Espanyol.
He has gone on to win the Ballon d'Or five times while at Barcelona while guiding them to nine LaLiga titles as well as four Champions League titles.