Lionel Messi may be adding a new title to his résumé, club owner. While the Argentine superstar is still scoring goals for Inter Miami, he has reached an agreement in principle to take control of Spanish second-division club Eldense, giving his football story a surprising new chapter.
The move would make Eldense the second Spanish club in Messi’s growing ownership portfolio after his purchase of fifth-tier UE Cornellà earlier this year. He is reportedly set to acquire 100% of the shares held by the Colombian investment group TH Soluciones Group S.A.S., although the deal still needs to clear legal procedures, undergo due diligence, and receive approval from Spain’s High Council for Sports.
But why would one of the world’s biggest active stars want to take on a club sitting 20th in Spain’s second tier? Messi’s latest move could reveal just how ambitious his plans for the game really are, and Eldense could be only the beginning.
A new chapter in Messi’s business life
Soccer fans know Messi mainly for his goals and the trophies he has won over two decades. Now he is quietly building a name in club ownership, too, showing a fresh new side of his plans.
Eldense plays in Spain’s second division, known locally as the Segunda División. The club sits in Elda, a small town in the Alicante province with a long history mostly spent in lower Spanish leagues.
This move comes as Messi continues to play professionally for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. He continues to balance an active playing career with growing business interests spread across two very different continents this year.
Inside the verbal agreement details
Messi has reached an agreement in principle to acquire 100% of the shares held by TH Soluciones Group S.A.S., Eldense’s current majority shareholder.
Eldense confirmed the agreement but said the transaction still requires final legal and contractual procedures, including due diligence and mandatory authorization from Spain’s High Council for Sports (CSD).
The club has not provided a fixed completion date. Reports indicate the deal could be finalized in the coming days, but Messi has not yet officially taken control of Eldense.
Eldense’s rocky start this season
Eldense has made a difficult start to its return to Spain’s second division. The club is currently 20th in the Segunda División after taking just 2 points from its opening 4 matches.
The club recently parted ways with head coach Claudio Barragán after the poor start. Assistant coach Josep Ferrando has taken charge of the first team on an interim basis.
Messi’s potential arrival would give Eldense a high-profile new owner, although the takeover remains subject to final legal procedures and regulatory approval.
Not Messi’s first ownership venture
Eldense would not be Messi’s first club ownership venture in Spain. In April, he acquired Spanish fifth-tier club UE Cornellà, which is based in Catalonia near Barcelona.
Cornellà is known for its youth development system, with academy graduates going on to play for major clubs, including Barcelona. Messi’s purchase was part of a broader effort to strengthen his connection to football development in Catalonia.
Messi also has football investments outside Spain, including a stake in Argentine club Deportivo LSM alongside Luis Suárez. If the Eldense deal is completed, it would become his second Spanish club.
Little-known fact: In 2012, Messi shattered Gerd Müller’s long-standing calendar-year goal record, netting 91 goals in a single year, a mark that had stood since 1972.
A growing trend among soccer stars
Messi is far from alone among elite modern players turning into club owners once their playing careers wind down. Several major names in world soccer have started buying stakes in clubs across Spain very recently.
Longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo already owns a 25% stake in Almería, a club also competing in Spain’s second tier this very season, meaning the two legendary rivals could soon technically own nearby Spanish clubs.
Other former players have followed a similar path within Spanish football in recent years. Club ownership offers these retired or aging stars a meaningful way to remain connected to the sport for many decades ahead.
Spending limits could shape the club
Owning a club in Spain does not automatically mean unlimited spending power for any new investor. Spanish soccer authorities enforce strict financial rules that cap how much every single club can spend on player wages.
These salary cap rules apply no matter how wealthy an individual owner might personally be at any given moment. Even a global superstar like Messi cannot simply pour unlimited funds into signing brand-new players.
Growth for Eldense would likely come through smart planning rather than big spending sprees on new transfers. Improved facilities, stronger coaching structures, and better youth development often matter more than flashy signings in the end.
What happens next for this deal
The current agreement is only a first small step toward full and complete ownership of this club. Legal paperwork, financial checks, and formal government approval must all be completed before Messi officially controls Eldense fully.
Spanish media reports suggest the overall timeline could move fairly quickly from this point forward. Some outlets even believe a finalized announcement and public confirmation from both sides could happen within the coming days.
Until then, Eldense continues its ongoing season under interim coaching leadership on the sideline. Supporters will keep watching closely for updates as the paperwork moves through required legal and regulatory channels across all of Spain.
Why this story matters to fans
For everyday fans, stories like this show how modern soccer keeps evolving well beyond the pitch itself. Star players are slowly becoming business figures who shape entire clubs long after their playing careers eventually end.
Small clubs like Eldense also benefit greatly from this kind of sudden global attention. A famous new owner can boost ticket sales, sponsorship deals, and even attract fresh fans who never followed the club before.
It also raises some interesting questions about fairness within lower-league Spanish soccer overall. When global stars buy modest clubs, competition and financial dynamics across an entire division can shift in unexpected ways over time.
TL;DR
- Lionel Messi has reached an agreement in principle to acquire 100% of Spanish second-division club Eldense.
- The shares are currently held by Colombian investment group TH Soluciones Group S.A.S.
- Spain’s High Council for Sports must authorize the transaction before Messi officially takes control.
- Eldense is currently 20th in the Segunda División standings.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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