MESSI AGREES IN PRINCIPLE TO BUY SPANISH SECOND-TIER CLUB ELDENSE

Argentina and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has reached an agreement in principle to acquire Spanish second-tier club CD Eldense, according to reports from Spain. The proposed takeover would see the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner take control of the club’s shares from Colombian investment group TH Soluciones Group S.A.S., which acquired Eldense in October 2025. The deal is still subject to the completion of legal procedures, due diligence and approval from Spain’s High Council for Sports.

The acquisition would mark another major step in Messi’s growing involvement in football ownership. The Argentine forward already acquired Spanish lower-league side UE Cornellà earlier this year, and the proposed Eldense takeover would give him control of a club competing in Spain’s professional second tier. Reports indicate that Messi is expected to acquire the entire stake held by the current ownership group, making the venture a significant expansion of his football business interests.

Eldense, based in Elda in Alicante, have experienced a difficult start to the current campaign. The club has collected just two points from its opening four league matches and currently sits near the bottom of the Segunda División table. The poor beginning also led to the departure of manager Claudio Barragán, who was replaced on an interim basis by his assistant Josep Ferrando.

The proposed takeover follows Eldense’s remarkable rise through the Spanish football pyramid. The club returned to the second tier in 2023 after a lengthy absence and has now featured in the division in three of the past four seasons. The team plays its home matches at the Nuevo Pepico Amat stadium, while the club’s recent progress and growing profile have reportedly made it an attractive investment opportunity.

If completed, the Eldense purchase would further strengthen Messi’s transition into football ownership while he continues his playing career with Inter Miami. He is also expected to receive a stake in Inter Miami after his playing contract ends. The proposed Spanish takeover could therefore provide Messi with an increasingly significant role in football beyond his activities on the pitch.