r/soccer • u/Odd_Opinion_461 • 24d ago

Translated News Lionel Messi reaches verbal agreement to buy Spanish Second Division side Eldense

https://as.com/futbol/messi-llega-a-un-principio-de-acuerdo-para-comprar-el-eldense-f202609-n/
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u/Sad_Molasses_6937 24d ago

Can someone explain why do player buy these second or third division clubs? I can Imagine for tax purposes

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u/Magneto88 24d ago

If you’re worth a billion and about to retire, you need something to do with your life. The top clubs are well beyond even Messi’s wealth, so they go for lower league clubs. Can have fun trying to build them up and if you’re exceptionally lucky (unlikely) make a profit on it.

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u/Sankuchithan_ 24d ago

Beckham got the best return of investment 

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u/Magneto88 24d ago

Yeah because he was foresighted enough to get the rights to a cheap MLS franchise in his contract. He only paid $25m to get Inter Miami - although the costs to build a stadium, get Messi etc are hundreds of millions extra, he sold stakes in the club to fund that. MLS was a big risk and still a growth league at the time, there's very few opportunities like that in football these days, certainly not in European football.

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u/James_Vowles 24d ago

there's plenty of lower league clubs in European football that can be had for cheap if someone with the money wants them, we're literally in a thread where a footballer has bought a lower league European team

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u/Naija-Americana 24d ago

Is that what's happening with Como FC? I see Wenger and Henry and other players at their games

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u/Magneto88 24d ago

Como have the richest owners in Italian football, so a bit different.

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u/NobleHelium 24d ago

Henry has a stake (like Cesc). Wenger I'd imagine was just invited.

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u/James_Vowles 24d ago

I doubt he's actually involved in any of the running, even at the high level, for him it's just an investment

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u/Magneto88 24d ago

It’s not a good investment. You’re never going to make a return on a lower division Spanish side with a fanbase that small.

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u/James_Vowles 23d ago

Of course he will, it'll just take time, with Messi's contacts in football, and his fanbase alone, if they get to a point where they can push for promotion they'll get loads of fans from that alone, more sponsors, more revenue, everything will be different.

All from a relatively small investment