Dhaka, Oct. 7 -- Lionel Messi may be preparing to say goodbye to Argentina, but another chapter of his football life is already taking shape.

The 39-year-old has made no secret of where his interests lie once his playing days are over. Coaching does not appeal to him. Owning clubs does.

And what once sounded like a plan for the distant future is increasingly becoming a working operation spanning Spain, Uruguay and, eventually, the United States.

Messi completed the acquisition of Spanish second-tier club CD Eldense last week, subject to regulatory approval, adding it to UE Cornella, the Catalan fifth-tier side he bought in April.

Now new reporting from BBC Sport offers a clearer picture of how he sees those investments fitting togethe...