Spanish second-tier club C.D. Eldense announced on Wednesday that Lionel Messi has reached an agreement in principle to take over as its new owner.
The Inter Miami forward is nearing a transaction that would see him acquire all of the shares currently controlled by Colombian investment company TH Soluciones Group S.A.S., Eldense’s majority shareholder.
Messi, 39, is set to own a second Spanish club after completing the purchase of UE Cornella on April 16 earlier this year.
Cornella compete in the fifth level of the Spanish football system and are highly regarded for their work in grassroots and youth development. Several players produced by their academy have subsequently moved to Barcelona, Messi’s former club.
After his playing contract with Inter Miami expires, Messi is also expected to receive an ownership stake in the Major League Soccer club. Spanish reports on Tuesday indicated that his Eldense takeover could be finalised within the next few days.
Eldense said the agreement still requires the remaining legal and contractual steps to be completed. Those include a due diligence review and the necessary approval from Spain’s High Council for Sports, known as the CSD.
No definite completion date has been set. TH Soluciones Group has also been approached for a response.
Eldense currently sit 20th in the Segunda Division. TH Soluciones Group assumed control of the club last October, following Eldense’s rise to Spain’s second tier after a prolonged period in the regional divisions.
Messi will not be able simply to spend heavily on new players to strengthen Eldense, with Spain’s strict salary-cap regulations limiting the club’s room for investment in its squad.
The Argentine is joining a growing group of prominent football figures with ownership interests in Spanish clubs. His former Barcelona team-mate Gerard Pique’s Kosmos group owns Andorra, who also compete in the country’s second division.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid forwards Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe are members of investment groups that hold majority stakes in Portuguese club Alverca and French side SM Caen respectively.
