News now that Lionel Messi has bought a football club.

Spanish outfit Eldense officially announcing that the club has been purchased by the Argentine international.

Lionel Messi played most of his club career in Spain with Barcelona, before then late in his career joining PSG and more recently Inter Miami.

Still playing at the age of 39, the player looking ahead no doubt to what he will do after retiring from playing.

Media in Spain report that once the purchase of the second tier club is signed off by the Spanish High Council for Sports, Lionel Messi is expected to take an active role in the running of a club which he will own 100% of.

After seven matches of the current season Eldense find themselves with only one win and fourth bottom of the Spanish second tier.

An official statement from the Spanish club has announced: “The acquisition of Eldense by Leo Messi, marking the start of a new and exciting chapter in the club’s history, which spans more than a hundred years. The arrival in Spanish professional football of one of the greatest figures in sporting history as the owner of CD Eldense marks the beginning of a long-term project aimed at driving the sporting, institutional and social development of CD Eldense. CD Eldense approaches this new phase with the ambition to consolidate its position and grow within professional football, whilst showcasing its roots, history and ‘azulgrana’ spirit.”

This is an increasing trend, football players investing in clubs, either buying outright or significant stakes in them. Once upon a time football players were renowned, at least in the UK, for buying pubs after they retired from playing. However, the money that players earn these days, especially elite ones like Lionel Messi, means that very little is out of reach when it comes to what they can afford to buy these days.