Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi purchased UE Cornella, a fifth-tier Catalonia-based club. Photo by Cristobal Herrera-Ulashkevich/EPA-EFE
Argentine soccer icon Lionel Messi purchased UE Cornella of Spain’s Tercera Federacion, the fifth-tier Catalonia-based franchise announced Thursday. Terms were not announced.
“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,” Cornella said in a news release.
Jordi Alba, one of Messi’s former teammates at Inter Miami and Barcelona, goalie David Raya, Javi Puado, Keita Balde, Aitor Ruibal and Ilie Sanchez are among the players who have played for Cornella.
“Messi’s commitment to young talent is also reflected in the club’s strong youth structure, with teams competing in the top youth categories at both national and regional levels,” Cornella said.
“This commitment has also been demonstrated by the Argentina captain through other youth development initiatives, such as the Messi Cup — a tournament that held its first edition last December in Miami, featuring eight of the world’s top U16 teams (Newell’s Old Boys, Inter Milan, River Plate, Inter Miami, Atlético de Madrid, Chelsea FC, Manchester City, and FC Barcelona).”
Cornella (16-7-7) sits in third place in Group V of the Tercera Federacion. The Catalan club will meet Grama in another league match Sunday in Barcelona.
Most successful Latin American soccer players of all time
Pelé, BrazilBrazilian footballer Pelé attends a book signing for “Pelé: The Autobiography” at Waterstone’s on Oxford Street in London on May 21, 2006. He won a record three World Cups with Brazil (1958, 1962 and 1970) and scored more than 1,000 career goals, becoming one of the most influential athletes of the 20th century. Photo by Rune Hellestad/UPI | License Photo
