MESSI'S NAPKIN MERCURY : AUCTION PRECIS

 

LONDON : Messi's signed napkin auctioned. The napkin on which 13-year-old Lionel Messi signed his first contract with Barcelona will be auctioned in March for a starting price of 300,000 pounds [ $381,000], British auction house Bonhams said last Wednesday.

The napkin was signed in December, 2000 when Carles Rexach, then Barca's sporting director, agreed with Jorge Messi, Messi's father, and agent Horacio Gaggioli to recruit him who went on to become the club's all-time top scorer.

'' In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and in the presence of Messers Minguella and Horacio, Carles Rexach, FC Barcelona's sporting director, hereby agrees, under his responsibility and regardless of any dissenting opinions, to sign the player Lionel Messi, provided that we keep to the amounts agreed upon,''  is written on the napkin from the Pompela tennis club. [ Reuters ]