Lionel Messi has purchased a £9.5million mansion in Ibiza it's been claimed - but the property is proving to be a nightmare.
The 35-year-old Paris Saint-Germain superstar purchased the property, near the cove of Cala Tarida on Ibiza’s western coast, from Swiss businessman Philippe Amon, according to local reports. Local newspaper Periodico de Ibiza has claimed that the deal was finalised on February 3, with a lawyer for Messi signing the paperwork as the legal representative of a company called Edificio Rostower, which belongs to another firm whose director is the footballer's brother, Rodrigo.
But it is claimed that the mansion has planning problems and has not yet been granted a certificate of occupancy, a document issued by a local government agency certifying it is in a liveable condition. The planning issues are reportedly linked to the construction of several rooms in the property’s garage from before Messi’s purchase.
A lawyer acting for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is now said to be talking to local town hall officials to try to resolve the issues. It is thought Messi may have to demolish the rooms that did not form part of the original plans in the new-build property, although no-one from San Jose Town Hall, which is in the municipality of Cala Tarida, could be reached on Sunday for comment.
The footballer and his family are regular visitors to Ibiza. He and pal Luis Suarez let their hair down at upmarket island club Ushuaia in June with their wives during a night out while they holidayed in a £250,000-a-week mansion, on a private island off Ibiza’s north coast.
He purchased a stunning £525-a-night 52-room hotel in Ibiza in 2018 - the stunning Hotel Es Vive along the Figueretas beach - a few months after purchasing a hotel in Sitges, near Barcelona, for £26million. The dad-of-three also owns a mansion in Castelldefels near the Catalan capital. He bought the property for £3.5million in 2009 with wife Antonela Roccuzzo and they have spent more than £5million on renovations.
His other properties include a huge mansion on the outskirts of his home city of Rosario called ‘The Fortress.’ The monster property, built on three adjoining plots of land in a gated private estate, has a huge cinema, gym and underground garage with enough space for 15 cars. According to reports in Ibiza, Messi and his wife spent time at their Ibiza home this summer, despite the planning issues.
As well as a large basement, the 1860 square metre property reportedly boasts a 300 foot pool. Drone pictures of the mansion also show a football pitch next to the pool, believed to be the same property Messi kissed his wife at in a photo he posted on his Instagram in June, alongside the romantic message: “Sunset with her @antontelaoroccuzzo followed by a heart emoji.
Periodico de Ibiza, which carried the exclusive about Messi’s Ibiza property purchase, said: “When the operation was concluded the footballer’s legal representative, a lawyer in Barcelona, was not aware of the mansion’s planning issues. “They are now aware of the planning problems and Messi’s legal representatives know what they have to do to legalize the property. Some discussions have already taken place between a lawyer for the footballer and the town hall.
"San Jose Town Hall has told us it can be legalised if the areas that didn’t form part of the original project are removed, namely the rooms in the garage.” Horseshoe-shaped Cala Tarida is the largest cove on Ibiza's west coast and the most popular with tourists.
