Oral history of his transfer, arranged 20 years ago

“In Barcelona, on Dec. 14, 2000, within the presence of [Josep Maria] Minguella and Horacio [Gaggioli], Carles Rexach, FC Barcelona’s sporting director, hereby agrees, underneath his duty and no matter any dissenting opinions, to signal the participant Lionel Messi supplied that we preserve to the quantities agreed upon.”

The above phrases, scribbled on a serviette following a sport of tennis in Barcelona, have gone down in soccer historical past. They had been unexpectedly written by Rexach, Barca’s sporting director on the time, in an try to guarantee Jorge Messi that the Catalan membership was dedicated to signing his son. Rexach signed the serviette, as did the brokers, Minguella and Gaggioli, as witnesses.

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Messi’s father had grown anxious about his son’s future due to Barca’s obvious hesitation to finish a deal. There was a debate behind the scenes at Camp Nou in regards to the deserves of signing a 13-year-old, however inside minutes of watching him throughout a trial sport in Barcelona in September 2000, Rexach was satisfied they needed to act. When the prospect of Messi shifting elsewhere arose, with the specter of Actual and Atletico Madrid being supplied an opportunity to signal him, Rexach took issues into his personal fingers to settle the household’s nerves.

Twenty years later, Messi has scored greater than 600 targets for Barca and is closing in on Xavi Hernandez’s look report for the membership of 767 video games. (He is additionally one purpose shy of tying Pele‘s report for probably the most targets for one membership.) He additionally has been named the most effective participant on the earth a report six instances and is taken into account by many to be the most effective participant of all time.

To mark the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the serviette, ESPN spoke to the three males who signed it: Rexach, Minguella and Gaggioli, together with Barca’s president on the time, Joan Gaspart, in regards to the occasions main as much as a second of improvisation that might change the membership’s fortunes over the subsequent 20 years.

Reporting by Sam Marsden, Jordi Blanco and Moises Llorens

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Discovering Messi

Messi joined his native group, Newell’s Previous Boys, as a 6-year-old in 1994, and movies of his wonderful expertise at that age have since gone viral. Nonetheless, information did not journey so quick on the time, and he remained comparatively unknown exterior of Rosario. As he received older, phrase did get out, however the reality Messi had been identified with a progress hormone dysfunction — and wanted remedy to assist his physique correctly develop and develop — postpone golf equipment in Argentina, together with River Plate. The remedy was costly for a young person with no ensures of success. It was an expense they both could not afford or did not need to gamble on, and Messi wanted a membership prepared to pay for the remedy.

Messi’s luck modified in 1998, when the Argentine-born agent Gaggioli, a resident of Barcelona for a few years, obtained a name from two contacts in Rosario, Fabian Soldini and Martin Montero. Two years later, Gaggioli, with the assistance of Minguella — an agent who had labored with Barca on many offers previously, together with the signing of Diego Maradona — and Rexach managed to get the Messi household over to Barcelona.

Gaggioli: The whole lot began in 1998 when two of my contacts, Soldini and Montero, who had a soccer college in Rosario, instructed me about this child. Messi was 11 once they first referred to as me to talk about him. My concept was to attend just a little, till he was 12 or 13, as a result of he was little or no on the time. They by no means hid that he would want injections [to aid his growth]. They stored sending me movies.

As soon as issues started to progress, I organised a gathering in Buenos Aires and [the agent] Juan Mateo got here from Porto Alegre. We spoke about getting a video to Minguella to try to get a trial at Barcelona. Messi’s household instructed Soldini and Montero that they needed an enormous membership and someplace the household might all go and stay collectively. That was Barcelona as a result of [I was there], however on the time it might have been a membership in Madrid, given I had a proposal to maneuver there that by no means got here to fruition.

By February 2000, I had already seen movies of how Lionel performed, and I knew this child was loopy good. The chance for me to work in Madrid got here up, and I might have supplied him to Actual Madrid or Atletico, however in the long run I stayed in Barcelona and Rexach accepted the proposal of a trial.

Minguella: One of many individuals I belief most on the earth of soccer has all the time been Juan Mateo. He was the one who referred to as me on the phone excited that he’d discovered an distinctive expertise in Rosario, who was taking part in for Newell’s youth group and the way, when he received the ball, he all the time headed straight for the opponent’s purpose. Expertise then wasn’t what it’s now. Now you’ll be able to join in anyplace on the earth and see every part right away, however then I needed to get them to report some movies and ship them to my house.

Once I noticed the footage, I nearly could not consider it. He was a really small participant, however with an distinctive expertise, who headed straight for the purpose with the ball glued to his foot.

Rexach: Gaggioli spoke to me about Messi in Montevideo, Uruguay. I would been in Brazil watching gamers and in Montevideo, on the best way again to Barcelona, he instructed me that I needed to change my plans and journey to Rosario to see a phenomenon. Once I requested about his age and place and he instructed me 13, my first response was there is not any rush … however his enthusiasm when talking about him took me again. So I decided that might have been criticised on the time: I proposed to Horacio that he organize a visit to Barcelona for the child and his dad and mom in order that we might verify him out over a few weeks.

I did not know the rest of Messi, personally, till I noticed him one afternoon — I do not know the precise date — on the pitches subsequent to the Mini Estadi. A sport had been organized with among the children from the youth groups. When Messi arrived in Barcelona, I would made it clear a child could be coming for a trial, however I needed to depart — I feel for Australia — and I wasn’t within the loop till I received again. Later, I heard that he had performed in several video games, however nobody had dared decide.

What I’ll always remember is {that a} stroll of three to 4 minutes, no matter it takes to stroll across the pitch, took me quarter-hour as a result of I used to be surprised and excited watching him, seeing what he did with the ball, his actions, his dribbles and his imaginative and prescient. I knew that was him, with out anybody telling me, as a result of he was the smallest on the pitch by a great distance and I might see one thing very totally different in him. I received to the bench, sat down and I instructed the 2 coaches that had been there: “Signal him. Do not even give it some thought. And if anybody asks, inform them it is my choice.”

Gaggioli: Once I noticed him for the primary time, I did not realise how little he was. He got here to Barcelona for the trial on Sept. 16 till Sept. 30. Jorge Messi, Soldini and I watched the trial video games collectively. Lionel stood out straightaway. He touched the ball like nobody else. There have been nerves, however Lionel quickly dispelled them. It was an exquisite expertise and Rexach mentioned that he was already satisfied that the membership needed to signal him.

Gaspart: I did not know who Messi was. It could be straightforward to say I did, and that I fell in love from the primary day, however that is not the case. Rexach spoke to me about Leo; he deserves all of the credit score. He got here to me and mentioned that we can’t let this distinctive child who has come over from Argentina escape. He mentioned he was totally different to something he’d ever seen. And when a sporting director of Rexach’s standing says that … I did not simply give him permission, I inspired him to get it performed.

And I repeat: [I did it] with out realizing something about Leo.

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The danger of shedding Messi

Regardless of Rexach’s conviction that Barca ought to signal Messi, the membership took its time after that September trial. There have been doubts about investing in somebody so younger. Messi and his household had been between Barcelona and Buenos Aires, and as time handed, with no information from Barca, they started to get anxious.

Because the Christmas interval approached, these concerned in serving to deliver Messi over to Spain started to consider taking him to different golf equipment. Actual Madrid and Atletico Madrid had been talked about.

Gaggioli: Rexach had already determined [to sign him], as had the late Joan Lacueva, who ended up paying for the beginning of his hormone remedy, however the membership hadn’t determined. They mentioned it was loopy to signal Messi. Issues weren’t going nicely at Barcelona in any respect and the membership was near chapter. Montero got here in November to try to kind the issues, however he did not handle to. Montero then referred to as me and instructed me to speak with Rexach and warn him that we will not maintain on any longer. And he instructed me that if we weren’t going to signal, Messi would go for trials with Actual Madrid or Atletico.

Rexach: I do not know if there have been different groups on the time, I do not assume so. We had right here, on the membership, a child very totally different to something we had seen earlier than. It was, I do not know, like a present, a novel likelihood for as a lot as there was danger concerned. They mentioned to me on the membership, “Pay attention, Charly, he is 13 years previous and we do not know what can occur sooner or later …” They did not need to take a danger on such a younger child. However I knew we needed to signal him to cease him going elsewhere after which regretting it.

Minguella: River Plate had him on trial for a few days, however determined to not signal him in the long run. For that cause, when the possibility to journey to Barcelona got here up, the participant’s dad did not have a lot to consider.

A part of the trial was a sport with children of Messi’s age and a group from [the next age bracket above]. It was organized after we spoke with Rexach in regards to the child coming to Barcelona. The perfect factor they may do was watch him. Charly had the president’s confidence and is a legend at Barca, so there was nobody higher than him to offer [Messi] the once-over.

Rexach reacted the second he noticed him play. After a couple of minutes, he mentioned he needed to be signed, that he was distinctive. Additionally at that sport was Quimet Rife and numerous ex-Barca gamers who had been working within the academy on the time. Messi was totally different to the remainder and it confirmed what we had seen within the movies Juan Mateo had despatched me from Argentina: he all the time appeared to get to purpose.

Gaspart: I did not know something in regards to the trial and did not even seek the advice of anybody after talking with Rexach. I already mentioned it was his choice … Nicely, the ultimate phrase needed to be mine, because the president, in fact, however the credit score is all Charly’s.

Messi’s signing got here a couple of months after [Luis] Figo’s exit, which was actually laborious for the membership and deserved a ebook of its personal. The whole lot that occurred in that August I might not want upon anybody, and as you’ll be able to think about, at that second, Messi was not a precedence for the membership.

I do bear in mind the logistical circumstances had been totally different as a result of the daddy, Jorge, needed Leo to stay in a flat with him and never in La Masia with the remainder of the youngsters within the academy. As an exception, Rexach instructed me it may very well be performed, that we could not be getting tousled in minor points and that we needed to do it.

Signing the serviette

By the center of December, Messi’s dad, Jorge, was significantly nervous. The dearth of reports out of Barcelona was main him to consider they weren’t prepared to signal his son. Sensing that the membership might miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime participant, Rexach stepped in to make sure that Messi didn’t go elsewhere.

Rexach: Jorge thought [Barca] had been stalling. I wasn’t there and do not know precisely how issues had been, however once I met with Jorge I realised he wasn’t clear on something. I suppose he did not belief [Barca] and he appeared determined, so one night time I met with Minguella and Horacio on the Pompeya tennis membership and, talking with Jorge on the cellphone, he instructed me, “If this is not sorted quickly, we’re going. I’ve to return to Buenos Aires and I do not see something taking place.” That was when, pondering on my toes, I made a decision every part.

Why a serviette? As a result of it was the one factor I had obtainable handy. I noticed the one method to loosen up Jorge was signing one thing, giving him some proof, so I requested for a serviette from the waiter and I wrote: “In Barcelona, on 14 December 2000 and the presence of Messrs Minguella and Horacio, Carles Rexach, FC Barcelona’s sporting director, hereby agrees, underneath his duty and no matter any dissenting opinions, to signal the participant Lionel Messi, supplied that we preserve to the quantities agreed upon.”

I instructed Jorge that there was my signature and that there have been witnesses, that with my identify I might take direct duty, there was nothing else to speak about and to be affected person for a couple of days as a result of Leo might already think about himself a Barca participant.

Minguella: We met on the Pompeya tennis membership in Montjuic in Barcelona. We had been chatting for some time after taking part in a sport of tennis. Horacio was additionally there. We reached the conclusion that one thing needed to be performed. It was genius from Rexach, with no paper handy on the tennis membership, grabbing the serviette, writing the contract and all of us signing it.

Straight after that, I spoke with Jorge Messi, who was on the Plaza Resort within the metropolis with Leo, to verify one of many president’s males had signed a doc and that the child was right here to remain. The Messis had been getting determined given Barca’s silence, however at that second every part was cleared up.

Gaggioli: The serviette was a sound doc legally, in response to what my legal professionals instructed me, and it modified everybody’s life. It is now guarded in a financial institution in Andorra — it is a historic doc and have to be protected. That mentioned, it also needs to be famous that since that doc existed, Barca despatched a letter inviting the household to come back to Barcelona. Joan Lacueva despatched a letter of 10 strains saying that in February 2001, the entire household ought to journey to Catalonia.

Gaspart: The serviette was an ethical manner of creating it clear to Jorge that there was nothing to fret about. Formally, it did not function something, but it surely was the step earlier than signing the primary contract, which [former Barca vice president] Paco Closa did.

Debut and remedy

The serviette was just the start of the tip of the saga. It could be nearly one other month till Messi was formally signed as a Barca participant. He would not be capable to make his aggressive debut till March resulting from registration points.

Carrying the No. 9 shirt in a sport towards Amposta, he scored on his first official look for the membership. Everybody on the membership quickly realised the caliber of participant that they had on their fingers, and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than different European heavyweights had been making an attempt to lure him away. Messi, although, remained loyal to Barca, grateful that they’d agreed to fund his hormone remedy.

Messi’s remedy concerned injecting his personal legs with human progress hormone every night time. The complete value of the remedy was reported to have been round €1,000 per thirty days, though neither the membership nor Messi has confirmed the figures concerned.

Rexach: He did not make his debut for some time as a result of he was international and couldn’t play official matches till his father was registered within the nation. We needed to kind the paperwork in order that he might play, however after the serviette I used to be relaxed, and so was Jorge.

Minguella: There have been some small bureaucratic issues that had been solved in March, the month he made his debut. He was international and underneath 18, so he needed to have authorisation. Regardless of coaching with the U13 A-team when it might have been extra regular to be with the U15 B-team, he needed to make his debut with the U13 B-team.

Gaggioli: Newell’s had refused to pay for the hormone remedy, like River Plate. Lacueva paid for the preliminary part of the remedy and after that Barca took cost of every part. As soon as he began to play repeatedly [for Barcelona], all the large golf equipment began to name, like Juventus, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Actual Madrid, though Arsenal had been closest to signing him. We even had dinner with Arsene Wenger. It was across the time Cesc Fabregas, Messi’s shut pal, moved to Arsenal.

Rexach: The hormone remedy? Look, I took cost of the signing — every part else was the membership. Clearly there was a price concerned, but it surely wasn’t extreme and I did not fear about it. I mentioned, “He is signed and now you’ll be able to handle the remainder,” making it clear [the club] needed to take duty.

Gaspart: Nothing particular occurred with the expansion remedy, the hormones. Do not take note of what individuals can say with unhealthy intentions. The signing was accredited with the particular connotations [relating to the treatment] and from there, Messi had a traditional day-to-day life on the membership. What I do suspect is that for a sure period of time, one other membership needed to get their fingers on him. It is not essential to say who. [Real Madrid?] I feel it is apparent, in fact.

I did not get the possibility to take pleasure in Messi as president. I wasn’t fortunate sufficient to profit from him, or from gamers like Andres Iniesta, Victor Valdes, Xavi and Carles Puyol, though some had debuted within the first group and I used to be particularly cautious to make sure that Puyol and Xavi stayed on the membership once they might have left and to cause with [Louis] van Gaal when he needed to kick out Valdes. Taking good care of the homegrown children and the gamers from the academy is prime for the membership.

I’m happy that the connection the Messis, Jorge and Leo, have with Barca has all the time been very shut. They perceive the possibility the membership took on Leo and their gratitude has been very evident.