Lionel Messi has expanded his horizons within the world of sports business. After several rumors, the world champion was finally announced as the new owner of CD Eldense, a team in the Second Division of Spain.
According to the club's official statement, the arrival of the Argentine "marks the beginning of a long-term vision project aimed at promoting sporting, institutional, and social development." "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 sentiment," the institution stated.
It is important to note that the acquisition is not yet fully formalized. The Alicante entity specified that "the transaction is pending the necessary authorization from the CSD under the terms established in the Sports Law", so the Higher Sports Council must give its approval to complete the process.
This operation represents a new foray for the Flea as the owner of a club in Spain. The Argentine had acquired 100% of UE Cornellà in April of this year, a Catalan institution currently competing in the fifth category of Spanish football.
Specifically, the presence of the Argentine in both institutions is one of the aspects that must be considered in the procedure before the Higher Sports Council, due to the restrictions of Spanish legislation on the participation of the same person in more than one club. Since Cornellà is an amateur club and Eldense is a professional club, the legal teams must meticulously justify the procedure to comply with the regulations.
Messi's other sports projects
In addition to owning Spanish clubs, the Rosario star also participates, with varying degrees of involvement, in other sports institutions around the world. In Uruguay he shares ownership of Deportivo LSM with Luis Suárez, while in Argentina his family founded the club Leones de Rosario in 2015, which currently competes in Primera C.
These projects are joined by Inter Miami, the team he currently plays for, although with a particularity. The number 10 has contractual options that would allow him to gain equity participation in the MLS franchise in the future, a possibility that would formally activate once he finishes his career as a professional footballer.
