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The napkin that changed football history: Messi's first Barcelona contract
🇵🇦 Panama /Sports

The napkin that changed football history: Messi's first Barcelona contract

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Lionel Messi's football career began with a contract signed on a napkin in 2000, initiated by Barcelona official Carles Rexach.
  • The agreement was made to secure the then 13-year-old prodigy, with Barcelona covering his growth hormone treatment.
  • This informal contract laid the foundation for Messi's legendary career at Barcelona, marked by numerous accolades.

A simple napkin became the unlikely document that launched Lionel Messi's legendary career with FC Barcelona. In December 2000, Carles Rexach, then the club's technical secretary, took a bold personal initiative to sign the 13-year-old Argentine prodigy.

In the moment we signed him, we dreamed he would be a phenomenon, but no one thought he would be so incredible.

— Carles RexachRexach's reflection on signing Messi to Mundo Deportivo.

Messi had traveled to Barcelona for a trial, impressing many but also facing doubts due to his small stature. His father, Jorge Messi, who passed away recently, recalled the mixture of dreams and fears accompanying their journey from Argentina. He remembered Lionel's singular focus on reaching Barcelona and succeeding in football.

The day we left Argentina with a baggage of dreams and illusions, but also with many fears, Lionel seemed to enjoy that trip.

— Jorge MessiJorge Messi's words to his son Lionel in 2016.

As uncertainty lingered and Jorge Messi contemplated returning to Argentina, Rexach acted decisively. He used a napkin from the Pompeia tennis club to draft an agreement, committing Barcelona to signing Messi under agreed terms, despite some internal opposition. This act secured the young talent and paved the way for Barcelona to cover his growth hormone treatment, setting the stage for one of football's greatest careers.

Always I have said that I immediately saw that Messi was good.

— Carles RexachRexach's statement about his immediate impression of Messi's talent.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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