Madrid [Spain], April 17: Football great Lionel Messi has become the owner of Spanish third-tier club Cornella.
The club are based in the south-west of Barcelona, where Messi - who has taken 100% ownership - made his name in a 17-year career between 2004 and 2021.
"This move reinforces Messi's close ties to Barcelona and his commitment to the development of sport and local talent in Catalonia - a connection rooted in his years at FC Barcelona and sustained ever since," the Catalan club said in a statement.
Cornella was founded in 1951 and competed in regional competitions and lower leagues in Spain before winning promotion to the Segunda Division B in 2013-2014.
They beat Atletico Madrid in a huge Copa del Rey shock in 2021 before being eliminated in the next round by Barcelona after extra-time.
Cornella have produced several players who have go on to have successful professional careers, including Jordi Alba - Messi's former team-mate at Barcelona and Inter Miami - current Barca defender Gerard Martin and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
Messi, who is now 38 and plays for Inter Miami in the United States, scored a club record 672 goals for Barcelona in 778 games.
Source: Qatar Tribune
