Ronaldo was rejected because of Ronaldinho and Messi’s career in Barcelona

Suara.com – Ronaldinho is a great teacher for Lionel Messi. The Brazilian star looked after the Argentine from a young age at Barcelona, ​​and the current club captain has flourished under his tutelage.

The mental formation and expertise of Messi in processing the round skin might not have happened had Joan Laporta, the then President of Barcelona, ​​followed his heart to recruit Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.

“We were just about to sign Ronaldinho and Rafa Marquez,” Laporta said in a chat with the Twitter account Iniestazo.

“Marquez’s people proposed Cristiano Ronaldo to us. He was at Sporting Clube at that time,” he wrote again as published by Marca.

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“One of his agents said they had a player they sold to [Manchester] United for 19 million, but they will sell it to us for 17 million. “

“But we were already investing in Ronaldinho at that time.”

“Cristiano played more wide than in the middle. We thought we were closed, so we turned him down and I don’t regret it.”

Modern football might have been very different if Laporta had recruited Cristiano.

2 decades old historical napkin, commemorating Messi’s contract in Barcelona

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On 14 December 2000, Lionel Messi signed his first contract with Barcelona. At that time he was 12 years old.

Unlike the official contracts that have been in effect in society so far, Messi’s first contract at that time was written on a napkin in the Club de Tennis Pompeia cafeteria.

At that time, Barcelona, ​​who was very sure of the ‘magical aura’ of little Messi, rushed to tie him up so as not to grab other clubs who were lurking.

Barcelona technical secretary Carles Rexach was present at the meeting with Josep Maria Minguella. Meanwhile, Messi was represented by Horacio Gaggioli.

“In the presence of Mr. Minguella and Horacio, Carles Rexach, the technical secretary of FC Barcelona, ​​a commitment is made under his charge,” read the writing on the napkin which became Messi’s first contract.

“Although there are some opinions against signing Lionel Messi’s (contract) player when receiving the agreed amount.”

The most outspoken person against Messi’s arrival at that time was Joan Laporta, who was then the club president.

At that time, it was reported that Laporta did not want to spend enough money to bring a 12 year old child.

However, Rexach opposed and insisted on bringing him. Without the green light from Laporta, after Gaggioli warned of interest from other clubs in Messi.

That is the reason why Messi’s first contract with Barcelona was poured on the napkin of a cafeteria.

Gaggioli himself still has these historic napkins. The napkins are stored safely at the Andorra Credit bank.

Gaggioli himself is currently still in his profession as an agent. One of the players he is currently working with is Marco Asensio.

Gaggioli has received a number of large offers to sell the document, but he will only consider loaning it to the FC Barcelona museum.

“I think it should be there, in a place of honor with the Messi Ballon d’Or because that napkin changed the club’s contemporary history,” he told Infobae.