Barcelona"Argentine footballer and eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, Lionel Messi, has finalized the acquisition of UE Cornellà and has become the new owner of the Baix Llobregat club." This was announced this Thursday by the green entity, which currently plays in the Tercera RFEF, a move that has been cooked up in silence and is now official. With this operation, the Rosario forward, who is still active at Inter Miami and is preparing to play in a World Cup with Argentina at almost 39 years old, strengthens his close relationship with Barcelona and Catalonia, where he intends to return to live in the short term with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three sons, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro.
Cornellà is a historic Catalan football club that has always been characterized by its excellent work with youth football. Founded in 1951, it has developed footballers who have established themselves in the elite, such as Jordi Alba, a European champion with Barça and the Spanish national team. It is also the club where David Raya, current Arsenal goalkeeper and international with La Roja, started. Likewise, it is the training club of Gerard Martín, current Blaugrana defender who played two full seasons with Cornellà in Primera RFEF. Espanyol has also benefited from one of the most prolific youth academies in our country. Not to mention, the current Espanyol captain, Javi Puado, arrived at the Dani Jarque Sports City from this modest club.
Messi acts like Piqué
"A new era is opening in the club's history, with the aim of driving its sporting and institutional growth, strengthening its structure, and continuing to bet on talent. The project contemplates a long-term vision, with a strategic plan that combines ambition, sustainability, and roots," it is communicated from Messi's circle, who joins the club of members of the best Barça in history who have invested in modest clubs. On this list are Piqué, owner of FC Andorra (Second Division); Andrés Iniesta, who for a time was a shareholder of Albacete to save it from disappearing, or Jordi Alba and Thiago Alcántara, shareholders of Hospitalet (Third RFEF).
Cornellà is currently third in the Tercera RFEF and aims to be promoted after two relegations in recent seasons. With 12 points left to play, they are two points behind Badalona, who are second, and four behind the leader, Manresa. Regarding Messi, he has a contract with Inter Miami until the end of 2028, with the option to terminate it earlier. During the last electoral campaign at Barça, his possible return to the club as a player for a possible last dancewas speculated, but the Argentine remained silent despite the appeals from candidates Marc Ciria and Víctor Font in this regard. He has no relationship with Joan Laporta, as of today. The president-elect of the blaugranas has always defended that Messi deserves a statue and a tribute at the new Camp Nou.