Inter Miami star Lionel Messi is making moves off the pitch that are gonna shake up European football, big time. He’s reportedly reached an “agreement in principle” to buy Eldense, a Valencia-based club chilling in Spain’s second division. And get this: the deal, which still needs Spanish sports authorities to greenlight it, means Messi is acquiring a full 100 percent of the club. Yeah, the whole thing! It’s not just a vanity project, either. Reports say Messi is “expected to take an active role in the running of the club.” This is huge, not just for Eldense, but for the entire Segunda División.
Eldense’s Wild Ride and Messi’s Hands-On Approach
This club has been on a rollercoaster lately. Eldense was actually relegated to the third division back in 2024, only to fight their way back to the second tier in May. Talk about grit! But even with that comeback, they haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire this season. They just canned their former head coach, Claudio Barragán, after a rough start that saw them with two ties and two losses. Now, former assistant coach Josep Ferrando is holding down the fort on an interim basis. Messi stepping in with 100 percent ownership, especially with the expectation he’ll be active, is exactly what a club with this kind of recent history needs. You gotta wonder what kind of shake-up is coming with the GOAT calling the shots from the top.
Messi’s Growing Football Empire (and Ronaldo’s Rivalry)
If you thought Messi was just focused on Inter Miami, think again. This Eldense deal isn’t his first venture into club ownership. Months ago, he snatched up Cornellà, a fifth-division club in Catalonia. Cornellà is actually famous for its player development academy, which even produced his former Barcelona and Inter Miami teammate, Jordi Alba. Plus, back in 2025, Messi and Luis Suárez teamed up to found Deportivo LSM, a Uruguayan club that debuted in their country’s fourth tier. And when he eventually hangs up his boots from MLS action, Messi is set to get a minority stake in Inter Miami too. So yeah, the man is building an empire!
This move also cranks up the heat on an already epic rivalry. Back in February, Cristiano Ronaldo got into the Spanish football ownership game himself, purchasing a 25 percent stake in second-division club Almeria. Mark your calendars, because Messi’s Eldense and Ronaldo’s Almeria are set to face off in Segunda División action on May 2, 2027. It’s gonna be wild to see these two legends duke it out from the owner’s box instead of on the pitch. Get ready, because the stakes just got even higher.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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