Lionel Messi is reportedly on the verge of becoming the majority owner of Spanish second-division club Eldense after reaching an agreement in principle to acquire the shares held by Colombian investment group Grupo TH.
The proposed takeover is expected to be completed in the coming days, subject to the conclusion of the remaining legal and contractual processes and approval from Spain’s High Council for Sport (CSD), according to Mail Online.
Eldense, based in Valencia, secured promotion to Spain’s second tier at the end of last season but have endured a difficult beginning to their current campaign. The club have collected just two points from their opening four matches.
The poor start has already resulted in a managerial change, with Claudio Barragán dismissed earlier this week. The club are currently without a permanent head coach.
If completed, Messi’s purchase of Eldense would represent another significant step in the Argentine football icon’s growing involvement in club ownership and investment.
The 39-year-old Inter Miami star previously expanded his football portfolio by acquiring a 100 per cent stake in UE Cornellà, a semi-professional Spanish club based near Barcelona.
Founded in 1951, Cornellà compete in Spain’s fifth tier. Following Messi’s arrival, the club outlined plans focused on long-term sporting and institutional development, including investment in young talent and strengthening its existing foundations.
Messi’s football investments also extend beyond Spain.
The Argentine is a co-owner of Uruguayan club Deportivo LSM alongside his former Barcelona teammate and current Inter Miami colleague Luis Suárez.
At Inter Miami, Messi also has a direct equity option that could allow him to acquire a partial ownership stake in the Major League Soccer club after his playing career comes to an end.
The potential Eldense takeover would therefore further strengthen Messi’s position as one of the most prominent active footballers to have moved into club ownership and investment.
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