Messi acquires majority stake in Spanish club "Elche" - Sarmad

The Spanish second-division football club CD Llanera announced that Lionel Messi has completed the acquisition of the club, pending regulatory approval.

At 39, Messi has thus become the majority shareholder of a second Spanish club, following his purchase of UE Cornellà, which competes in the fifth tier, last April.

The former Argentina and Barcelona striker, who currently plays for Inter Miami in the United States, agreed in September last year to buy all the shares of Llanera, previously held by the Colombian investment group TH Solutions S.A.S., the club’s largest shareholder.

Llanera, founded in 1921, stated on its website: “We officially announce Lionel Messi’s acquisition of the club, marking the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in the history of this club, which spans more than 100 years.”

Llanera hopes this deal will provide a strong boost, as it currently sits in 19th place in the second division after suffering four defeats in seven matches, struggling to avoid relegation.