Madrid, 1 February 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The napkin on which Lionel Messi penned his first Barcelona contract in 2000 is set to be auctioned at British auction house Bonhams, according to the La Vanguardia newspaper.

The auction is reportedly to take place between March 18 and 27 and the estimated selling price is expected to fall within the range of £300,000 ($382,170) to £500,000.

The piece of football memorabilia has been carefully preserved in a safe by Horacio Gaggioli, Messi's representative at the time.

The napkin bears not only Messi's signature, but also those of Carles Rexach, then Barcelona's technical secretary, and Josep Maria Minguella, the talent scout credited with discovering the player.

The napkin, which was signed during a lunch at La Reial Societat de Tennis Pompeia in Montjuïc, holds a written commitment by Rexach.

Messi, who has since won multiple major titles, including Champions League and the World Cup, was only 13 when he joined the Barcelona academy from his local Argentinian club Newell's Old Boys in 2000.

The world champion left Barca in 2021 for Paris Saint-Germain, before moving to Inter Miami last year.

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