The Sun: Messi acquires Eldense, renews rivalry with Ronaldo's Almería in Segunda División

According to The Sun, the two have faced each other countless times on the pitch, and now both are nearing the end of their careers. Ronaldo is chasing 1,000 goals in Saudi Arabia, while Messi is gradually entering the twilight of his career in the United States. However, this rivalry will not end when they hang up their boots. A new competition awaits them on the unfamiliar stage of the Spanish Segunda División.

Messi has just joined the ranks of illustrious Segunda División club owners and minority shareholders, a group that includes Ronaldo, as well as Gerard Piqué's FC Andorra and Girona, which is run by Pep Guardiola's brother Pere.

In February this year, Ronaldo invested heavily, acquiring a 25% stake in Almería and partnering with the Saudi-backed majority shareholder SMC Group.

This Andalusian club boasts a stadium with a capacity of 18,000 and a LaLiga pedigree, having finished eighth in the 2007-08 season.

Messi, on the other hand, opted for a "big fish in a small pond" approach, directly purchasing all shares of the lesser-known Valencian club Eldense.

The blue and white team was founded by Barcelona fans—Messi's former club—and only gained promotion to the Segunda División last season. Their home stadium can accommodate fewer than 6,000 spectators.

The 39-year-old Inter Miami star Messi was reportedly moved by Eldense's story and attracted by the team's use of Barcelona's iconic blue and white colors.

The acquisition still requires approval from Spanish authorities, but Eldense has already publicly announced the news. Messi also posted a photo of himself watching the team's 4-1 victory over Oviedo on his social media story.

Eldense's revenue and expenditure are among the lowest in the Segunda División.

However, Messi's arrival is sure to bring changes to the club.

He certainly has the financial means, with an estimated net worth of nearly £1 billion.

In an official statement, Eldense described Messi's acquisition as "fresh and exciting," adding: "One of the most important figures in sports history entering Spanish professional football as the owner of Club Eldense marks the beginning of a long-term project aimed at elevating our sporting, institutional, and social development."

The rivalry between Almería and Eldense is already enough to excite fans.

The two teams already met in the opening match of this season's Segunda División, with Almería comfortably winning 3-0 at home.

The second leg will be played on May 2nd at Eldense's home stadium.

This is not Messi's first venture into club ownership; he acquired Catalan fifth-division team Cornellà in April.

However, this is clearly a bigger step. This new era of ownership may rekindle the legendary rivalry. In 2023, Ronaldo once said the competition was "over."

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