Lionel Messi is set to expand his involvement in Spanish football, with second-tier club Eldense announcing that the Argentina legend has reached a preliminary agreement to become their majority shareholder.
The proposed takeover would make Eldense the second Spanish club in which Messi has invested.
The 39-year-old previously bought a stake in Catalan side Cornella in April, adding a new dimension to his long-standing connection with Spanish football.
Messi currently plays for Inter Miami after leaving Barcelona and later Paris St-Germain. He also recently ended his international career after Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
Messi Agrees Preliminary Eldense Deal
Eldense confirmed that Messi has reached an initial agreement to acquire the shares currently held by Grupo TH Soluciones.
If completed, the transaction would make the former Barcelona superstar the club’s majority owner.
However, the agreement is not yet final. Several legal and contractual steps still need to be completed, including due diligence and approval from Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD).
Eldense said the transaction remains subject to those requirements before the ownership change can officially take place.
The club are based in Alicante and are currently experiencing a difficult start to their season.
Eldense have collected only two points from their opening four matches and sit 20th in La Liga 2.
Their poor beginning to the campaign has already resulted in a managerial change, with Claudio Barragan leaving his position earlier this week.
For the latest football news, scores and major developments from the sport, readers can also follow Football Today.
Messi’s Growing Links to Spanish Football
The proposed Eldense investment would be Messi’s second involvement with a Spanish club.
His first came in April when he acquired Cornella, a Catalan club currently playing in the fifth tier of Spanish football.
At the time, Cornella described Messi’s investment as strengthening his connection with Barcelona and demonstrating his continued commitment to developing sport and local talent in Catalonia.
Messi’s latest move would take his involvement beyond Catalonia and into Spain’s professional second tier.
The potential Eldense takeover also represents another step in the former Barcelona star’s activities away from his playing career.
Messi’s Remarkable Barcelona Legacy
Messi’s connection with Spain dates back to his teenage years.
He moved from Argentina to Spain at the age of 13 before eventually progressing through Barcelona’s academy.
At just 17, Messi made his first-team debut for Barcelona in October 2004.
What followed was one of the most remarkable individual careers in football history.
Messi became Barcelona’s all-time leading goalscorer, scoring 672 goals in 778 appearances for the club.
After an extraordinary spell in Catalonia, he left Barcelona for Paris St-Germain in 2021.
Two years later, he moved to the United States to continue his career with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
Despite leaving European football as a player, his latest investments show that Messi continues to maintain strong links with the Spanish game.
Messi and Ronaldo Take Different Paths into Club Ownership
Messi is not the only global football superstar to have invested in Spanish football.
His former Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues to play for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, acquired a 25% stake in Spanish side Almeria in February.
The two legendary forwards are therefore developing interests in Spanish football away from their playing careers, although through different clubs and ownership structures.
For Messi, the proposed Eldense deal is now dependent on the completion of the necessary legal procedures and approval from Spain’s sports authorities.
If those requirements are satisfied, the Argentine icon will officially become the majority shareholder of an ambitious Spanish club looking to improve its fortunes in La Liga 2.
For now, Eldense’s immediate priority remains their difficult start to the season, while Messi waits for the final steps of the proposed takeover to be completed.