CD Eldense entered a new phase after Carolina Holguín Tafur ended her presidency and confirmed the transfer of the team to Lionel Messi. On the homepage, the club announced that Ms. Holguin left leadership after a period described as historic for the team.
In her farewell message, Ms. Holguín said that CD Eldense is beginning a new era under Messi's leadership. The Colombian businesswoman also sent a request to Messi to respect the values and meanings that the team brings to the people of Elda.
This move marks a remarkable step forward in Messi's football investment plan. Instead of just appearing as a player, the Argentine star is gradually building a portfolio of teams in many countries.
CD Eldense is a team with a history since 1921 and currently plays in LaLiga Hypermotion, the Spanish 2nd division. This is a significantly higher professional level than UE Cornellà, the team Messi bought earlier and is playing in the Spanish lower league system.
According to previously published information, Messi signed an agreement to buy 100% of CD Eldense's shares from TH Soluciones Group S.A.S. The deal then entered the process of completing legal procedures in Spain.
The acquisition of Eldense also shows that Messi is directing investment activities towards teams with potential for development in the Spanish professional football system. Eldense has just returned to the second division and is in the process of stabilizing the squad, coaching staff as well as management activities.
This season, Eldense continues to compete in LaLiga Hypermotion, where there is a presence of many traditional teams and the common goal is to win the right to La Liga. Messi will therefore have a real professional-level football project, instead of just investing in youth football or lower-level teams.
Notably, Eldense is also in the group of clubs linked to famous football stars investing in Spanish football. Cristiano Ronaldo is currently a shareholder of UD Almeria, a team that is also playing in the Spanish second division.
Thus, after many years of making their mark on the football field, Messi and Ronaldo are having another point of intersection in their underground careers, which is to jointly own clubs in Spain.
For Messi, taking over Eldense does not mean that his playing career has ended. He still plays for Inter Miami in the MLS. However, investing in a professional club in Spain shows that Messi has begun to prepare for another role in football, besides his playing career.
Eldense is now becoming the most notable professional club in Messi's football investment portfolio. For a team with more than a century of history, the challenges ahead are not only on the pitch but also building a development model suitable for the new ambition under the ownership of the Argentine superstar.
