Sept 8 (Reuters) - 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.

Messi has agreed in principle to acquire all the shares ​held by majority owner TH Soluciones ⁠Group S.A.S., with an ⁠announcement expected in the coming days, the reports said.

The ⁠Colombian ‌investment group, which took control of Eldense in October, 2025, would transfer its entire stake ⁠to Messi. The deal remains subject to ​the approval of ‌Spain's High Council for Sports (CSD).

Reuters has contacted TH ⁠Soluciones and ​Eldense for comment.

Messi, who recently retired from international duty withArgentina, acquired fifth-tier Spanish sideUE Cornella on April 16.

He is ⁠also due to receive a stake ​in Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, once his playing contract with the team ends.

Eldense are based in Elda, ⁠a town of about 55,000 people in the eastern Spanish province of Alicante.

The club have spent most of their history in Spain's lower divisions but, following fresh ​investment, have played in the ⁠second tier in three of the past four seasons.

Eldense sacked ​manager Claudio Barragan on Sunday ‌after taking two points from ​their opening four league matches, leaving them third from bottom.

(Reporting by Ruairidh BarlowEditing by Toby Davis)