Lionel Messi set to become sole owner of Spanish club Eldense

Lionel Messi is close to completing an agreement to take full ownership of Spanish club Eldense, according to a report by AS.

The Inter Miami forward has already signed the purchase agreement, which is currently being reviewed. The only remaining step in the deal is approval from Spain’s National Sports Council, the newspaper said.

Messi will acquire all of the club’s shares and become its sole owner once the transaction is approved.

“​​One of the biggest stories at the start of the season is close to being confirmed. Lionel Messi is about to become the new owner of Eldense,” AS reported.

Eldense currently has 3,500 season-ticket holders in the city, which has a population of just over 55,000.

The club were recently promoted to the Segunda Division and will now come under Messi’s ownership with ambitions of reaching Spain’s top flight in the future.

One of the prominent figures in Messi’s planned project could be on the sidelines. Madrid-born coach Javi Calleja is the leading candidate to take charge after Claudio Barragan was dismissed.

No final agreement has yet been reached with Calleja, but he is regarded as the club’s first choice for the managerial position. A decision is expected in the coming hours.