Chronology of the adventure that led to the consecration of the greatest footballer in the world
By
Federico Cristofanelli
The first photo of Lionel Messi in Barcelona: it was in a room at the Plaza Hotel while he was testing at the club
Sunday, September 17, 2000. Lionel Andrés Messi walks the corridors of the Ezeiza International Airport. He is on his way to fulfilling his dream of playing for a club in Europe, but he still has a knot in his stomach from the imminent sensation of traveling by plane for the second time in his life (the first had been to play a youth tournament with Newell’s, in Peru). In fact, the turbulence causes dizziness and vomiting. At just 13 years old, he prepares his mind to take a test at Barcelona in Spain. Fabián Soldini, his representative, holds three plane tickets in his hand because the one who also flies is Jorge, the father. The suitcases are not very big and carry more doubts than certainties about Leo’s future. They present the passports they had to scramble out of a week earlier, go through customs and board the plane. The teenager tightens his belt for what will be the greatest adventure of his life.
Lionel had already had his initiation in the Abanderado Grandoli club and inflated nets in Newell’s children’s. He was part of a Category 87 that was recognized for his good game and a huge number of professional soccer projects. One of the first to take a look at it was the former player leper and of the Argentine national team Fabián Basualdo, who was beginning to experiment in the world of representation with the help of the already renowned agent Ricardo Schlieper. At the same time, a Soldini who had just received his coaching job joined a business group that hired him as a scout in the leagues around Rosario (that’s where he caught Nacho Scocco in the town of Hughes in Santa Fe). .
Who promoted the Flea before Soldini was his uncle Claudio Biancucchi (husband of Celia’s sister, Leo’s mother). As he represented his son Maximiliano, a Category 84 striker who was released in San Lorenzo and ended up making a career in Paraguayan and Brazilian soccer, he traced the connection. “You take good care of the boys, why don’t you come see my nephew, he’s a crack?” , he caught his attention. The representative went to the Newell’s property in Bella Vista to observe it in action.
It was love at first sight: Soldini was enthralled. In dialogue with Infobae, describes: “I went to see a game of the local First Division and I arrived earlier to follow it. I see a dwarf who makes pin, bread, pum and sends it to save. When I hear that someone says that I discovered Messi, I deny it. Even my grandmother with cataracts realized that this kid was a phenomenon.”
Not too many minutes passed between the wonders she saw from Leo on the court until arranging a meeting with George Messi. They got together the following Saturday to take advantage of his free time at the Acindar metallurgical company and his father asked him two questions: first, that neither social work nor Newell’s wanted to continue paying for his growth hormone treatment, which cost $960 a month. ; second, that the country’s economic situation was not enough and he looked favorably on settling abroad. Only a few months ago, a leperCategory 88 youth squad had been captured and signed by Milan from Italy: Leandro Depetris was the one who motivated Messi’s premature departure to Europe.
Leo Messi during his beginnings in the inferiors of Newell’s
With the permission of the business group that supported him, Soldini gave him the OK to cover the costs of Leo’s treatment on the condition that he break his ties with the people who represented him until then so as not to have any inconveniences in the future. Jorge agreed and clarified that he would just sign a new representation contract when they were installed in Europe. The budding agent was taking his first steps in that world and many cut off the phone when he reported on the age of the Rosario phenomenon he was sponsoring. Juan Mateo, an Argentine who lived in Brazil and had direct contact with José María Minguella, Barça’s transfer advisor, listened to him.
The context in which substantial progress was made with the signing of Messi for Barcelona is almost unlikely. Juan Mateo had interference in the representation of Felipe Scolari, coach of Palmeiras from Brazil that was about to play the final of the Libertadores against Boca in Buenos Aires. “Fabián, I’m going over there so you can tell me good things about this boy.”When they met at the São Paulo team’s team hotel before the first leg match at La Bombonera, he took him to Felipao’s room so that he could tell the coach himself about the strengths and weaknesses of the rival led by Carlos Bianchi. It was a sine qua non condition. Soldini went from trying to convince him to take Leo to Barcelona to act as a spy for Palmeiras. And it didn’t go badly: it was 2-2 in La Boca.
“Juan, believe me, he is the new Diego”, Soldini wielded without hesitation to Mateo, who was overjoyed by the positive result of a Palmeiras that would bite the dust against Boca in San Pablo, by penalty shootout, a week later. The next day, he phoned Minguella, who had an important record in the Blaugranas signing field: after Maradona he closed the Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov and the Brazilians Romario and Rivaldo, to name a few heavy names.
“How old are you? 12? Are they perhaps trafficking children?”, was the first response of the Catalan scout who was dealing with the loss of the Portuguese Figo (to Real Madrid), closed the Dutchman Marc Overmars and wrote down in a folder to keep track of the Argentines Roberto Bonano and Javier Saviola, who would arrive in the following season.
Weeks, months passed, until we had news from Spain again. Soldini and Jorge Messi did not leave a nail unbitten while watching countless youth games (including Leo’s) and in that time forged a great friendship. At Newell’s they noticed that something could happen regarding the fate of the great jewel of the quarry. In reality, it was his teammates and coaches who were seriously concerned, as managers turned a deaf ear to pleas for coverage of his treatment. It was only at the end of August, on the closing of the European transfer market, that Minguella gave the thumbs up for the skilled left-hander to travel to Barcelona.
A teenager Leo Messi taking his first steps at Barça
Leo, Jorge and Soldini went from the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport directly to the office of Minguella, who was absent that day. Who received them at 10 in the morning was Txiki Beguiristain, Barça’s emblematic sporting director who has been working for Manchester City for years. At that time he was only recognized for his steps as a footballer in Real Sociedad and the Spanish team, in addition to the Catalan club. Joaquim Rifé, coordinator of La Masía, introduced himself and informed them that Lionel had to report to the Ciudad Deportiva that same afternoon for training. In addition to the nerves due to the test, Messi’s physique was compounded by jet lag and the discomfort caused by the flight . There was no other option but to put on his boots and take the field.
Leo changed with a group of footballers that included Gerard Piqué, Césc Fábregas , Victor Olmo and Toni Calvo. Suddenly, one of the coaches who would plan the practice came out of the locker room with a worried face and approached the place where Soldini and Jorge were waiting: “He’s not going to be able to play, he’s injured. I saw him wrap an ankle.” Moving from alarm to calm, Lionel’s tutors explained to the coach that it was customary for him to bandage himself before training and playing matches.
“ FabiI hope it’s good because you’ll never come in here again, huh”, was Juan Mateo’s warning to Soldini, when he saw that Piqué was more than a head taller than the little Argentine. “I don’t know how the others play, but I know how this one plays. Stay calm and watch it ”, was the confident response from him. From a tribune they watched how Leo played little games for several minutes without dropping the ball in what was the first dictated exercise. It was logical: a VHS had already arrived in Spain some time ago in which Rosario’s promise was juggling with an orange. The second job was a one on one with definition. Messi took the first ball, left his marker sitting and defined. Juan Mateo ejected from his seat and exclaimed: “This is to be seen from the field.” They asked permission to enter and positioned themselves on the field. At that precise moment, the emissary was convinced to dismiss the chance of approaching a Brazilian youth who was also in the folder.
The sensations after the first session were positive. Jorge settled with Lionel in room 546 of the Plaza Hotel, while Soldini stayed in a motel because Barcelona refused to cover the costs of his stay. From September 17 to October 3, the trio repeated the same routine: subway ride, training and return. Messi gave lectures in each practice, but no person in charge of Barcelona approached to provide certainty about his future. Under their breath they heard some say “he’s a foosball player (indoor soccer)”. Soldini says that Leo scored 5 goals in training after his agent challenged him to that record in exchange for a sports outfit that he loved (from the brand that historically sponsored Maradona).
Before being signed by Barcelona, the Messi family and their representative had moments of anxiety
“Have you brought this kid? How is it possible that these animals have not told you anything yet? It’s the closest thing I’ve seen to Diego”, was the hopeful comment from Migueli, a former Barcelona defender who had shared a squad with Maradona. Impatience took over the Argentine contingent because in addition to dilating the Leo definition, he missed many classes at school. In his last days of stay, Carles Rexach (Barça’s technical secretary who had just returned from seeing players at the Sydney Olympics) had his eye on him. He spent 10 minutes with his eyes fixed on Messi and was an eyewitness to a goal in which he left four rivals on the road before hitting the goalkeeper. He left without contacting Soldini and Jorge. “This is an asshole! Do you see what Leo is doing, he leaves and doesn’t tell us anything?”, was the thought and discharge of both, and prelude to packing the bags to return to Argentina.
Leo went back to school and rejoined the youth squad at Newell’s, where he caught pneumonia to justify his absence. He passed October and November without any news. Jorge was confused: “That’s it, let’s go somewhere else”. Minguella communicated to appease the spirits and inform that they would give an answer shortly. Martín Montero, owner of the company where Soldini worked, traveled to Spain to hurry up the Barcelona manager and give him the ultimatum: “I have to return to Argentina with some guarantee because we will lose our family”. Minguella assured him that he would buy the financial rights for him to be screened in the Catalan club’s academy.
This was the parallel contract to the one for the famous napkin that Rexach signed for Horacio Gaggioli(from Rosario who officiated as the player’s representative at that rally) in the cafeteria of the Pompeia Tennis Club in Barcelona on December 14, 2000. “In the presence of Messrs. Minguella and Horacio, Carles Rexach, technical secretary of FC Barcelona undertakes, under its own responsibility and despite some opinions against it, to sign the player Lionel Messi as long as we keep the agreed amounts”, prayed the disposable paper that Gaggioli treasures. in advance, Minguella had offered Montero a salary of $4,000 a month, plus a car and an apartment.
On February 1, 2001 The entire Messi family traveled (Jorge and Leo were joined by Celia and the brothers Rodrigo, Matías and María Sol) with Soldini and Juan Mateo. The signing of Lionel’s first contract with Barcelona was not even held in the institution’s offices: it was directly in a hotel located a few blocks away. The pre-agreed conditions with Minguella would be transferred directly to Barça. Salary, accommodation and vehicle. It remained to set a sum to be divided between the two parties that mediated and the footballer. Jorge whispered to Soldini if he agreed to demand a sum of 600 thousand dollars when Lionel completed 50 games in Barcelona’s first. Soldini, recognizing his lack of experience at the time, recommended that Minguella write down the amount that Barcelona would pay to the three interested parties. The figure of 6 million dollars was stipulated to be divided into three.
The Messi family in 2003, a year before Leo made his debut in Barcelona (Photo by Marcelo Boeri/El Grafico/Getty Images)
Jorge was the one who was always by Leo’s side since his final arrival in Barcelona . They lived in an apartment two blocks from the club’s sports field, so he walked to and from training and also to school. Soldini went and came back several times. Celia and the brothers could not stand it and returned to her native Rosario a few months later. The story that not many know is that three months after signing his first contract, Messi suffered a broken fibula that shattered his permanence and continuity at Barça. The rehabilitation with the medical department of the culé entity, which had already taken charge of his hormonal treatment, was optimal. Leo came back better than ever.
The story between the Messi and his representative did not have a happy ending. The pink color faded as Leo burned stages in the Blaugrana quarryuntil its official premiere in October 2004. “Leo trusted me with everything, even things that you don’t trust your father because of the shame that he is your father. With Jorge it was all 10 points until he suggested I continue in a way that I didn’t like. It was a shot to the heart”, anticipates Soldini. The agent traveled from Rosario to Barcelona again in December and went to the Argentinian restaurant La Carreta, where they dined with Jorge, Leo and Rodrigo, who a couple of years earlier had made his last attempts to be a professional footballer at the Catholic University and Bulgarian football, promoted by his younger brother’s agent.
The family’s decision was to try to separate from Minguella, who had become fully involved in Barcelona politics (he ran as a candidate for president in the elections won by Joan Laporta in June 2003 and finished fifth among six applicants). And they intended to deal from then on only with Soldini and not with the rest of the members of the business group (Martín Montero, owner of the representation company, and the lawyer Iván Hernández, who certified each legal instance). “Jorge told me that Leo adored me and wanted to deal only with me, but I couldn’t turn my back on other people. I asked Leo if he agreed with that decision and he said yes. I got up and left. It may be that today I regret my reaction a little, I could have looked for a return to the subject, although I don’t know if it would have worked or not. Leo told me to stay calm, that he was going to fix everything, “he details. With the bags on his back, believing that after dinner he was going to stay in the Messi apartment, he called Horacio Gaggioli to provide him with a roof that night after his abrupt departure.
Fabián Soldini (to the right), together with the youth of the Under 20 team Tiago Geralnik and Gino Infantino, plus his collaborator Ignacio Oviedo
That was the break in the relationship between the Messi and Soldini. The agent kept in touch with Leo for a few months and they even exchanged messages during the 2005 South American Championship in Colombia, his first official competition in the Argentine national team jersey. Until at a certain point Lionel cut the rope: “Between my dad and you, I have to stay with my dad”. Today, Soldini still maintains a legal conflict with the Messi for that first signed contract.
Soldini proudly experienced each of Leo’s sporting achievements, although with the pain of not having been able to accompany him as in his beginnings. A decade later he decided to send her a message to share a coffee in Barcelona. They exchanged several WhatsApps in which they remembered old anecdotes and confessed to missing each other. In August 2015, Leo invited him to watch a match to the Camp Nou and then to stay at his house. They stayed awake watching a match between Newell’s and Colón until the early hours of the morning in Barcelona. He even offered to stay the next day to enjoy the company of Neymar, Javier Mascherano and Kun Agüero. They melted into a hug and agreed to meet again at Christmas, after the Club World Cup in which Barcelona would defeat River in Japan in the final. But Messi no longer answered the messages.
“After what we lived with Leo, it hurts me that everything has ended like this, but it is a chapter that I closed”, concludes Soldini, who before taking a last sip of coffee takes a deep breath with a lost look and the prolonged pain of “what would have happened if…”.