{
  "id": 6375814,
  "title": "Messi nears deal to acquire Spanish second-tier club Eldense",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/messi-nears-deal-to-acquire-spanish-second-tier-club-eldense",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T02:50:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2026/09/1528786/messi-nears-deal-acquire-spanish-second-tier-club-eldense"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Madrid: Lionel Messi is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire Spanish second-tier club CD Eldense, as multiple Spanish reports indicate. According to the sources, Messi has agreed in principle to purchase all the shares currently held by the majority owner, TH Soluciones Group S.A.S. An official announcement is expected in the upcoming days. The Colombian investment group TH Soluciones, which took control of Eldense in October 2025, would then transfer its entire stake to Messi. However, the deal is contingent upon approval from Spain's High Council for Sports (CSD). Reuters has reached out to TH Soluciones and Eldense for comment. Earlier this year, Messi expanded his football ownership interests by acquiring fifth-tier Spanish side UE Cornella on April 16. He is also set to receive a stake in Major League Soccer club Inter Miami once his playing contract with the team concludes. Eldense, based in Elda, a town of approximately 55,000 people in eastern Spain's Alicante province, has spent much of its history in Spain's lower divisions. However, recent investment has propelled the club to second-tier status in three of the past four seasons. Eldense dismissed manager Claudio Barragan on Sunday following a poor start to the campaign, with the team securing just two points from their first four league matches, leaving them third from the bottom.",
  "summary": "MADRID: Lionel Messi is close to completing a deal to buy Spanish second-tier club CD Eldense, adding to his growing portfolio of football ownership interests, according to multiple reports in Spain.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Messi nears deal to acquire Spanish second-tier club Eldense",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/messi-nears-deal-to-acquire-spanish-second-tier-club-eldense",
        "published": "2026-09-08T21:38:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Messi nears deal to acquire Spanish second-tier club Eldense",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/messi-nears-deal-to-acquire-spanish-second-tier-club-eldense-6348377",
        "published": "2026-09-08T23:03:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Messi set to buy Spanish football club",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/messi-set-to-buy-spanish-football-club",
        "published": "2026-09-09T05:52:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Messi agrees to buy Spanish second-tier club Eldense",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/messi-agrees-to-buy-spanish-second-tier-club-eldense",
        "published": "2026-09-09T09:21:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}