Lionel Messi's unofficial first-ever Barcelona contract - scribbled on a napkin - goes on sale at auction for eye-watering amount

After Barcelona refused the option to display the famous napkin at the club's museum, agent Horacio Gaggioli decided to put the item up for sale. The London-based auction house Bonhams has started the bidding at £220,000 and the auction will run until Friday, May 17.

Barca's commitment to sign the Argentine was made when the iconic attacker was just 13 years old. Although Messi impressed during a trial with the Catalan side, the club were unsure about signing him and Gaggioli told club director Carles Rexach that he would be offered to other clubs and could end up joining Real Madrid if no deal was offered.

Desperate to prevent the club from missing out on him, Rexach wanted to make the deal official while discussing the matter over dinner with the agent. He did not have the time to have a legally binding document drawn up, though, and instead wrote up a commitment on a napkin.

Rexach wrote: "In Barcelona, on December 14, 2000, and in the presence of the gentleman (the agent, Josep Maria) Minguella and Horacio (Gaggioli), Carles Rexach, technical secretary of FCB, commits under his responsibility, despite the opinion of others who are against signing Lionel Messi, as long as the agreed fees are maintained."

As Messi went on to become Barcelona's greatest-ever player and arguably the best to ever grace the game, winning 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns with the club and even the World Cup with Argentina, the napkin has become an iconic piece of football memorabilia. The napkin is expected to earn upwards of £300,000 and could even go as high as £500,000.