Messi moves to acquire Spanish second-division club Eldense

Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to take full ownership of Spanish second-division club Eldense, pending a legal review expected to take about two weeks.

• Messi instructed Eldense sporting director Víctor Lafuente to find a new coach, after the club sacked Claudio Barragán on Monday.
• Eldense, 20th of 22 teams in Spain's second division with two points after four rounds, faces decisions on stadium and training-centre development.
• Elda mayor Rubén Alvaro welcomed Messi's interest and asked media to respect the confidentiality of the deal's procedures.
• Earlier this year Messi entered ownership of third-division club Unión Española Cornellà, extending his football investments across Spain, Uruguay, Argentina and the United States.