Lionel Messi has reached a provisional agreement to become the new owner of Spanish second-division team Eldense, which could add another football club to the portfolio of ventures that is growing with the Inter Miami star.
A source confirmed on Tuesday that the 39-year-old has agreed terms regarding a potential takeover of the team, though it’s contingent on successful due diligence and the Spanish National Sports Council’s eventual approval.
The club, owned by Colombian investment group Grupo TH, which also holds interests in clubs in Colombia and Switzerland, would become the first professional Spanish club to be directly owned by the superstar forward – Messi completed the buy-out of fifth-tier Cornell earlier this year, although this club remained semi-professional. He’s also part of Uruguayan outfit Deportivo LSM along with former teammate Luis Suárez.
Founded in 1921, Eldense returns to the Spanish second tier this summer after their relegation in 2015. The club has a poor start to the season, losing and drawing 3 1 games on opening 4 fixtures. And on Thursday, the dismissal of coach Claudio Barragn.
They play their home games at Nuevo Pepico Amat stadium (capacity 5,776) in Elda.
