Eldense return to training without Claudio Barragán as potential Messi takeover looms

Eldense returned to training on Wednesday after two days off in which the club has been rocked by two major developments: the abrupt dismissal of head coach Claudio Barragán and a preliminary agreement that could make Lionel Messi the new owner of the club. With Josep Ferrando acting as interim coach, the squad completed its first session in an atmosphere of deep uncertainty.

• The players returned to the annex pitch at the Pepico Amat under Josep Ferrando's direction.
• The club remains silent until Messi's purchase of shares is fully completed and validated.
• The session was used to start preparing for Sunday's match away to Real Sporting Gijón.
• Claudio Barragán was unexpectedly dismissed during the team's two days off.

Josep Ferrando takes charge of first training session

Without Claudio Barragán on the touchline and with Lionel Messi's possible arrival as owner casting a shadow over the club, the Eldense squad trained on Wednesday at the annex pitch of the Pepico Amat to begin preparing for their next league fixture. Josep Ferrando, already part of the club's structure, took over on an interim basis and led a session that appeared calm on the pitch but generated plenty of attention beyond it.

The interim coach's main task was to maintain continuity within the group at a time when the players have barely had time to absorb the events that have reshaped the club's present in just a matter of hours.

Claudio Barragán's surprise dismissal shakes Eldense

Claudio Barragán's exit from the Eldense bench came without warning and was confirmed during the two days of rest given to the squad. The coach left his post early in a LaLiga Hypermotion season in which the Alicante-based club is fighting to consolidate its position in the division, where every point counts.

The managerial change is the first major shake-up in a project that now falls to Josep Ferrando while the club defines its permanent plan both on the bench and in the boardroom.

Eldense stay quiet on Lionel Messi ownership deal

The club has chosen to remain cautious as the operation that could turn the World Cup winner with Argentina in Qatar 2022 into the new Eldense owner moves forward. Club officials prefer not to comment until the purchase of shares is fully completed and receives approval from the relevant sporting bodies.

That institutional prudence contrasts with the global attention generated by a story that has pushed the club into the international spotlight. If the takeover goes through, Messi would be linked to a team competing in Spain's second tier at a time of sporting and institutional restructuring.

Sporting Gijón test looms for a club in turmoil

From day one, the return to work has had a clear target: to arrive in the best possible shape for Sunday's 14.00 kick-off away to Real Sporting Gijón. The match, part of matchday five in LaLiga Hypermotion, is a demanding test for a squad trying to block out the noise surrounding the club.

Sporting, one of Spanish football's historic clubs and a regular contender for promotion to the top flight, will test the resilience of an Eldense side starting a new chapter with far more questions than answers. The dressing room's response at El Molinón will reveal how much impact the recent upheaval has really had.

What is at stake for Eldense on Sunday

With four matchdays already played, away trips like the one to Gijón are an opportunity to pick up points and avoid losing touch with the rest of the division. Poor starts in Spain's Segunda División are punished harshly, and Eldense cannot afford to let institutional turmoil take a toll on results.

The fixture against Sporting also measures how well the squad adapts to an unusual situation, with changes on the bench and a possible ownership shift in the background. Keeping competitive focus will be just as important as any tactical adjustment.

Despite the uncertainty across all levels of the club, the team completed its first session focused on the trip to El Molinón without major setbacks.

Frequently asked questions about the Eldense situation