Argentina football legend Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to become the majority shareholder of Spanish second-division club Eldense.
Eldense said the agreement involves the purchase of shares currently owned by Grupo TH Soluciones. The deal would make Messi the club’s majority owner once the remaining legal and contractual processes are completed.
The club said the transaction is also subject to a due diligence process and approval from the Spanish National Sports Council.
Eldense, based in Alicante, are currently struggling in La Liga 2. They have collected two points from their opening four matches and sit 20th in the table.
The club also parted ways with head coach Claudio Barragan earlier this week.
The proposed investment would make Eldense the second Spanish club owned by Messi. The 39-year-old bought Catalan fifth-tier side Cornella in April.
Messi, who left Argentina for Spain at the age of 13, joined Barcelona’s first team in 2004 and went on to become the club’s all-time leading scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances.
He left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 before moving to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami in 2023.
Messi’s former Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo has also invested in Spanish football. The Al-Nassr forward bought a 25 per cent stake in Almeria in February.
Messi’s proposed investment in Eldense would further strengthen his involvement in Spanish football, where he spent most of his legendary playing career.
