Lionel Messi Takes Over Spanish Second Division Side CD Eldense

“The arrival of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner initiates a project intended to drive sporting, institutional, and social development.”

Lionel Messi has completed his purchase of Spanish second-division club CD Eldense, stepping into direct ownership of a professional team in Europe while continuing his playing career with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.

Inside the Eldense Takeover

CD Eldense, founded in 1921 and based in the Alicante city of Elda, confirmed the transaction on a Thursday following a preliminary agreement reached in September. The club plays its home fixtures at the Nuevo Pepico Amat, a stadium with a capacity of 5,776 spectators.

Prior to the sale, Eldense was owned by the Colombian investment group Grupo TH, marking the third ownership change for the team within a single year.

Club Sits 19th as Manager Is Dismissed

On the pitch, the club sits 19th in the 22-team Spanish second division, having secured one win and five points from its opening seven matches. The team dismissed manager Claudio Barragán earlier in the week after a four-game winless start to the campaign.

Expanding Football Empire

The Eldense purchase adds to a growing portfolio of sports investments for Messi.

RFEF Rules May Restrict Both Clubs from Same Division

The dual ownership of Eldense in the second tier and Cornellà in the fifth division does not create immediate operational conflicts, as the two teams are separated by three divisions. However, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, or RFEF, would likely restrict both clubs from competing in the same division if Messi remains a majority shareholder of both, potentially capping the upward mobility of his Catalan investment.

Purchase Awaits Formal Regulatory Approval from CSD

The deal is subject to formal regulatory approval from Spain’s National Sports Council, known as the CSD. The finalization of the purchase now awaits this mandatory clearance from the council. Meanwhile, the squad prepares for its next league fixture without a permanent manager following the departure of Claudio Barragán.