Lionel Messi set to become majority owner of Spanish club Eldense

Spanish second-division club Eldense confirmed Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to become its majority shareholder. The deal involves him purchasing the shares currently held by Grupo TH Soluciones, pending the finalization of remaining legal and contractual procedures. Eldense, located near Alicante in south-east Spain, did not release specific financial details regarding the transaction or a completion date for the purchase. Messi is joining other Spanish clubs where he has previously invested; earlier this year, he acquired ownership of Barcelona-based UE Cornella. Eldense recently dismissed its head coach, Claudio Barragan, following a poor run resulting in only two points across four matches this season. The 39-year-old footballer first arrived in Spain at age 13 to join Barcelona's youth academy. After two decades with the Catalan club where he won multiple titles, he left in 2021. Eldense maintains historical connections with Barcelona, founded by a group of supporters of the original club in September 1921 and playing in blue and red colors. Messi was recently placed on the shortlist for another Ballon d'Or award after leading Argentina to a World Cup runner-up finish and winning the MLS Cup with Inter Miami.