Lionel Messi poised to own Spanish club Eldense

Lionel Messi has reached a provisional agreement to become the new owner of Spanish second-division team Eldense. This agreement is contingent on successful due diligence and the eventual approval from the Spanish National Sports Council.

The club is currently owned by the Colombian investment group Grupo TH, which also has interests in clubs in Colombia and Switzerland. If the takeover is finalized, Eldense would become the first professional Spanish club directly owned by Messi, who previously completed the buy-out of fifth-tier Cornell earlier this year.

Messi is also involved with Uruguayan club Deportivo LSM alongside former teammate Luis Suárez. Eldense, founded in 1921, has recently returned to the Spanish second tier after being relegated in 2015.

The team has had a poor start to the season, with three losses and one draw in their opening four fixtures, leading to the dismissal of coach Claudio Barragn.