There had already been hints of this on Thursday, and now it’s official: Lionel Messi is set to buy the Spanish second-tier side Eldense. However, the final formalities still need to be sorted out.
On Thursday, news leaked out that Lionel Messi was planning to buy his next Spanish club, following his acquisition of fifth-tier side UE Cornella. The club in question is second-tier side CD Eldense. A day later, further crucial information emerged, as the club confirmed that the Argentine had reached an agreement with the club’s current owners regarding the purchase of shares.
This means that the superstar has reached a basic agreement with the existing owners regarding the acquisition of a majority stake. Messi will therefore have a say in the running of the Spanish second-tier club from now on. The 2022 World Cup winner has reached an agreement with the club’s current owners regarding the purchase of the shares, which are currently held by the TH Soluciones group. This would make the 39-year-old the majority shareholder of the long-established club based in Elda, a town with a population of 55,000.
Deal still subject to conditions
However, the deal is not yet finalised, as, according to Eldense, the transaction is still subject to conditions. The final legal and contractual checks are currently underway. Furthermore, approval from the Supreme Sports Council (CSD) is still required, the club spokesperson emphasised. This is all considered a formality. The club did not provide any details regarding the financial terms.
For Messi – who recently ended his international career – Eldense would be his second role as a majority shareholder in a Spanish club. It would, however, be his first with a professional club. The former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player, who is currently in his fourth season with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, is already the owner of fifth-tier side UE Cornella.
With Messi on board, the club naturally gains a major figurehead. The Argentine is one of the best, if not the best, footballers in history. He has achieved everything in his career and came close to becoming a World Cup winner for the second time this summer (a 0–1 defeat after extra time in the final against Spain).