Argentine legend Lionel Messi reached an agreement to purchase the Spanish club Eldense, which competes in the second division, as confirmed on Thursday.
The club Eldense, located near Alicante, will be the former Barcelona forward's second venture into owning Spanish football clubs; earlier in April, he acquired the fourth-division club Cornellà.
The 39-year-old footballer currently plays for Inter Miami and concluded his international career after Argentina's defeat by Spain in the World Cup final this summer.
"CD Eldense can confirm that Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement with the current owners of the club to acquire shares currently held by Grupo TH Soluciones, which would make him the majority shareholder of CD Eldense," they told the AFP agency.
"Currently, the deal awaits the completion of final legal and contractual procedures, including the due diligence process, as well as necessary approval from the Spanish Sports Council (CSD)," added the club, founded in 1921.
"At this moment, the club cannot provide detailed information about the financial terms of the deal or set an exact completion date, as the process is not yet finalized. As soon as the relevant procedures are completed and the necessary approvals are obtained, CD Eldense will officially announce any developments regarding this matter."
