Lionel Messi receives backing from Spain for reported Eldense takeover

Lionel Messi has been assured that Deportivo Eldense would continue to receive municipal support if the Inter Miami forward completes his reported plans to acquire the Spanish club.

Ruben Alfaro, the mayor of Elda, said on Wednesday that the city would welcome the ownership of a globally recognised figure such as Messi and stressed that local backing for Eldense would remain in place should the proposed deal go through.

Reports on Tuesday claimed Messi had reached a preliminary agreement to buy Eldense, a club in Spain’s second tier. The proposed transaction would see him acquire all of the club’s shares without the involvement of any other parties.

If completed, the move would mark Messi’s entry into professional football business in Spain. It would also make him the first Argentine footballer to own a professional club in the country.

Alfaro said the possibility of Messi becoming involved with Eldense had been discussed with people close to the former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain player.

“In the conversations held with those close to Messi, they took into account that Eldense is a historic club, being the oldest in the province of Alicante, as well as having achieved two promotions to professional football in the past three years,” he said.

The mayor added that representatives from Messi’s camp had seen the support provided by Elda City Council in recent years.

“They have witnessed the support of the city council in recent years,” Alfaro said. “Since becoming a public limited sports company in 2022, it has supported the club with more than four million euros under a sponsorship agreement worth one million euros per season.”

Alfaro said he had also made clear during discussions that Eldense would continue to benefit from assistance from the city council under the proposed new project.

According to the mayor, the focus of that project would be on “training and grassroots football”.

The potential takeover would extend Messi’s growing involvement in football ownership. Earlier this year, he acquired Cornella, a club in the Catalan third tier, according to the report.

Eldense’s history and recent progress were central to the discussions with Messi’s representatives, with the club having moved into Spain’s professional game twice during the past three years.

Alfaro described the reported interest as a major opportunity for the city of Elda and said Messi’s involvement could raise its profile beyond the region.

“It is a great opportunity for the city that someone like Lionel Messi has noticed our club and can put Elda on the map nationally and internationally,” he said.

The proposed purchase has yet to be confirmed, but Messi would take full control of Eldense if the preliminary agreement becomes a completed transaction. The investment would give the Argentina captain a fresh role within Spanish professional football, following his earlier acquisition of Cornella.