September 9 – Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to take control of Eldense of Spain’s second division, adding a second club to his growing portfolio of football properties.
The 39-year-old player has agreed terms with the Colombian investment group Grupo TH, which currently controls the Alicante club. Spanish reports claim that the deal would mean that Messi would acquire the entirety of his stake, although the operation remains subject to due diligence and the approval of the Superior Sports Council (CSD).
The mayor of Elda, Rubén Alfaro, has confirmed that a preliminary agreement has been reached and has said that Messi is pursuing the investment alone, following suggestions that former Barça teammates Andrés Iniesta and Carles Puyol could also participate.
Messi is understood to pay around $12 million for the club.
If completed, Eldense would become the second Spanish club controlled by Messi this year, but the first in the professional game.
In April it acquired a majority stake in fifth-tier UE Cornellà, the Catalan club based near Messi’s long-term home in Barcelona. The CSD subsequently approved Messi’s purchase of 85.05% of the club.
Having both clubs would not create an immediate ownership conflict, as Eldense and Cornellà are currently in three divisions, although the ownership structure could be complicated if they eventually end up in the same competition.
Eldense offers a very different proposition to Cornellà. Founded in 1921, the club returned to Spain’s second tier in 2023 after almost 60 years away, were relegated in 2025 and won promotion this summer.
His comeback got off to a bad start, though. Eldense have taken just two points from their opening four games and sacked promotion manager Claudio Barragán at the weekend. Local reports had already linked Barragán’s departure with the prospect of a change in ownership.
The club plays at the Nuevo Pepico Amat, with a capacity of 5,776 people.
Messi is also involved with Deportivo LSM in Uruguay alongside long-term partner Luis Suarez and is due to receive a stake in Inter Miami once his player contract expires.
Eldense’s move would push that interest much further. Instead of just taking small stakes around the game, the Argentine is starting to build a collection of clubs with his own money and name.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at harry.ewing@insideworldfootball.com
