Lionel Messi has officially completed his takeover of Club Deportivo Eldense, adding the Spanish second-division side to his growing football portfolio. The Inter Miami star already owns UE Cornella, a Catalan club he purchased in April.
Messi expands club ownership
The 39-year-old, who helped Argentina reach the World Cup final in the summer before retiring from international football, agreed a deal last month to acquire all shares from a Colombian investment group, the club's majority shareholder. Eldense confirmed the acquisition in a statement.
The statement read: "Club Deportivo Eldense officially announces the acquisition of the entity by Leo Messi, beginning a new and exciting stage in the more than one hundred years of history of the institution."
Club's long-term project
"The arrival in Spanish professional football as owner of CD Eldense of one of the most important figures in the history of sport marks the beginning of a long-term project with the aim of boosting the sporting, institutional and social development of CD Eldense," the statement continued.
"Founded in 1921, CD Eldense faces this new stage with the ambition to consolidate and grow in professional football, while projecting its roots, history and blue and red feeling."
Current league position
The transaction is pending required authorisation from the CSD under terms established in the Sports Law. Eldense, based in Valencia, have made a slow start to the season, sitting 19th in the Segunda Division after seven matches, above Cadiz, Ceuta and Albacete.
The club have earned five points so far and will hope to escape a relegation battle under Messi's ownership in a league that also includes former La Liga sides Las Palmas, Real Mallorca and Girona.
