Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement over the purchase of Spanish second-division side Eldense.
Messi will become the club’s majority shareholder if the deal sails through.
Messi will now own two professional football outfits, having bought Catalan side Cornella in April.
The Argentine great recently quit international football after a disappointing World Cup final which saw them lose the trophy to Spain after a 1-0 victory. His international retirement is also not unconnected to the death of his father.
Eldense said: “A preliminary agreement has been reached with Lionel Messi for the acquisition of the shares currently owned by Grupo TH Soluciones, which would make him the club’s majority shareholder.
“The transaction is currently subject to the completion of the remaining legal and contractual procedures, including the due diligence process, as well as the required authorisation from the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD).”
Based in Alicante, the club has just two points from four matches this season and have recently sacked their head coach, Claudio Barragan, who ranks 20th in La Liga 2 this term.
Cornella are a fifth-tier team in Spanish football and in April announced Messi’s investment in the club saying that the move “further cements his connections with Barcelona and his dedication to developing sport and young players in Catalonia.”
He moved from Argentina to Spain at the age of 13 years and played his first match for Barcelona at 17 years old in October 2004.
Then he went on to score a record 672 goals in 778 games before he switched to Paris St-Germain in France in 2021 before joining American club Inter Miami in 2023.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia, a former rival of Messi at Real Madrid, has acquired 25% ownership in Spanish team Almeria in February.
