Leo Messi buys a Barcelona building and transforms the city's upper area

Leo Messi's connection with Barcelona continues. In fact, it has never ended, as the Argentine star has said several times in different interviews that he would like to finish his professional career in the Ciudad Condal and live there.

While that has not happened, since for now he remains in Miami, he is becoming increasingly prominent in the city and is now going to transform the upper part of it. Messi has bought a historic and iconic building: the corporate building that housed the former Via Wagner galleries in Barcelona's Turó Park.

The footballer has done so through Rostower Socimi, the listed real-estate investment company he owns, in a transaction that cost 11.5 million euros.

What are the Via Wagner galleries?

It is one of the city's least known buildings, especially because these galleries have been closed since 1993. With a total of 4,000 m², according to the company in a statement, this purchase also includes a renovation of the building. Little else is known about the future of these galleries, which will bring more life to the upper part of the city where they are located.

The history of the beautiful Turó Park gardens

In Barcelona's upper area, this park exudes beauty. You have surely taken a walk in Turó Park, a space for rest, tranquillity and shade, especially during the summer months.

According to Barcelona City Council, it includes small woods, ivy flowerbeds, winding paths and landscaped corners. There is also a café kiosk where breakfast is wonderful: Pinhan Café-El Jardí Secret. There is also a children's playground area.

Turó Park dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, to 1912, in honour of the poet Eduard Marquina, and it was previously the Turó Park amusement park. In addition to its vegetation, it features notable architecture with a small pond and a sculpture of Pau Casals at its entrance. It also has the sculpture by Apel·les Fenosa, dedicated to Pau Casals, and La ben plantada, by Eloïsa Cerdan, in homage to the writer Eugeni d’Ors.

Among its species are a small holm-oak wood, shrubs, areas with magnolias, Himalayan cedars, lime trees and plane trees, as well as several palm trees, rose bushes and other aromatic plants.

Messi's other businesses

Leo Messi not only plays football, but also runs MiM Hotels, a hotel brand with various establishments in Sitges, Ibiza, Mallorca, Baqueira, Sotogrande and Andorra, operated by Meliá Hotels International.

He is also a partner in the El Club de la Milanesa restaurant group, based in Argentina, with 70 outlets across Argentina, Uruguay and Miami. It is now preparing its international expansion, with a stop in Spain, so we expect to see him soon opening venues in Barcelona.

The purchase of the Turó Park galleries adds to Messi's purchase of the UE Cornellà football club, which will make the Argentine return to the city several times.