Lionel Messi Set to Take Over Spanish Second-Tier Club Eldense

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has reportedly reached a preliminary agreement to take over Spanish second-tier club Eldense, in what could mark a major step in his growing involvement in football club ownership. The proposed deal is still subject to due diligence and approval from Spain’s National Sports Council before it can be completed. Eldense are currently owned by Colombian investment group Grupo TH, which also has football interests in Colombia and Switzerland. If the takeover goes through, Eldense would become the second Spanish club linked to Messi’s ownership interests, although it would be his first investment in a professional club in the country. Messi already has an involvement with Barcelona-based fifth-tier side Cornella, a semi-professional club that has produced players such as Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and former Barcelona defender Jordi Alba. The Argentine superstar is also involved with Uruguayan club Deportivo LSM alongside his Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez.

Eldense, founded in 1921, have spent most of their history outside Spain’s top two divisions. The club returned to the second tier in 2023 for the first time since 1964, but were relegated in 2025 before securing promotion back to the division this summer. Their return has not started strongly, however, as the team have failed to win any of their opening four matches of the current campaign. That poor run led to the dismissal of coach Claudio Barragán earlier this week, leaving the club without a manager. Eldense play their home games at the Nuevo Pepico Amat stadium in Elda, which has a capacity of 5,776. Messi’s ownership of Eldense would not immediately create a conflict with Cornella because the two clubs are currently separated by three divisions. However, Spanish football authorities could prevent both teams from competing in the same division if Messi eventually becomes the majority shareholder of both clubs.

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