Messi Buys Iconic, Dilapidated Building in Barcelona for IDR 235 Billion
KOMPAS.com - Global football superstar, Lionel Messi, is further expanding his property business empire in Spain.
This time, the Argentine has purchased the former Via Wagner shopping centre in the elite Turó Park area of Barcelona.
The purchase was made through Messi’s property investment company, Edificio Rostower Socimi, with the transaction value reaching 11.5 million euros, or approximately IDR 235 billion.
Bloomberg reported that the transaction was announced by the selling company, Santomera Bay, on Tuesday (12/5/2026).
The Via Wagner building has a long history in Barcelona. The building was once known as one of the most exclusive shopping centres in the northern part of the city during the 1980s.
According to Barcelona Secreta, the gallery opened in 1985 at the intersection of Avenida Diagonal and Beethoven Street, and it once competed with other elite shopping centres such as Pedralbes Center and Galeries Berlin. However, the project eventually failed.
There are approximately 87 shops with different owners who have never reached a consensus regarding the management of the building.
As a result of the prolonged conflict, the building, which covers an area of almost 4,000 square metres, has been abandoned for more than three decades, despite being located in one of Barcelona’s most premium areas.
After being acquired by Messi, the building is planned to undergo a major renovation.
The property will be transformed into a premium office complex for rent to large companies, especially from the financial sector.
Quoting the Santomera Bay website, the project has already attracted interest from a number of top financial operators as potential tenants, although no final agreement has been reached regarding the tenants who will occupy the building.
“When a globally recognised investor like Leo Messi chooses Barcelona, it sends a strong signal to the international market,” said Santomera Bay in a statement quoted by Cadena SER.
The purchase of Via Wagner further strengthens Messi’s ties to Barcelona, even though he now plays for the MLS club, Inter Miami.
Messi has lived in Barcelona since he was a teenager until he left FC Barcelona in 2021.