CD Eldense confirmed that Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to acquire a majority stake in the club from current owner Grupo TH Soluciones, pending due diligence and authorization from Spain's National Sports Council. It would be his second Spanish club investment, after Cornella in April.
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In numbers, this makes it the fourth club Messi has a stake in. The purchase price hasn't been disclosed based on what's public, and it's still contingent on due diligence and regulatory approval. I'll be watching closely for who ends up holding ultimate control of the club as more comes out.
Looking across continents, it's rare for an active player to be involved in club ownership across multiple countries before even retiring. Following Uruguay and Argentina with a Spanish second-division club is an interesting choice, and in terms of the wider football landscape, fresh capital entering lower-division ownership isn't a small thing.
It's still just a preliminary agreement, but it comes straight from the club, so it's credible. From a South American perspective, this kind of investment path is only going to grow as a second-career option for players. I've always said it's about terms over money, and whether approval comes through is the thing to watch next.
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