Football world shaken by Emiliano Sala disappearance

Wednesday 23 January 2019

As search teams renew their hunt for the missing plane off Alderney this morning, more details are emerging about the top footballer, 28-year-old Argentinian striker, Emiliano Sala, who was on board along with an unidentified pilot.

He was on his way from Nantes to Cardiff, with reports saying he was only in the Welsh city on Friday, returning this weekend to pick up his personal effects; and that he had turned down a highly-paid job offer to go to a Chinese club at the "11th hour."

A major search operation around Alderney was paused again last night after crews covered a distance of 1,155sq miles. The aircraft fell off the air traffic control radar at around 20:30 on Monday, with a lifeboat crew heading out by 20:50. 

Pictured: The zone in which the search was conducted on Monday night into Tuesday. Courtesy of Guernsey Police. 

The Argentinian striker had apparently rejected an offer of double the £15million transfer fee from FC Nantes to Cardiff FC just three days ago. 

"His Premier League dream was stronger than the mind-blowing bid from China," said French site Le 10 Sport. 

Commenters have already begun to point out how tragic the chain of events seems to have become. 

If it’s true that Emiliano Sala had turned down a lucrative late bid from a Chinese club because he’d given Cardiff his word he’d sign for them, then the current situation is even more devastating..... pic.twitter.com/hhMkEHb2OX

— Jacqui Oatley (@JacquiOatley) January 22, 2019

In Argentina, Sala’s father Horacio told channel C5N: “I didn’t know anything because I’m away from home. A friend who saw it on TV told me. I’m in despair.” 

Julio Muller, the mayor of Progreso, the small town in the farming province of Santa Fe where Sala grew up, told Clarin online: “The town is in shock. The only thing we were talking about was his transfer.”

Pictured: A still from a Canal Sport TV report showing Sala as a teenager. View here. 

Sala spent four years at FC Nantes the longest stretch at one club of his career. He was the third highest scoring player in the French top division last season. 

Both clubs have now issued statements in relation to the incident; Cardiff City were said to be 'very distressed' by the news. 

Cardiff City FC Executive Director & CEO Ken Choo | 22/01/19: https://t.co/k9nAcGDHeo

— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) January 22, 2019

Nantes asked their followers to 'Pray for Sala' and organised a vigil at Place Royale in Nantes where they would drop a yellow tulip into the fountain, yellow being the club's colour.

— FC Nantes (@FCNantes) January 22, 2019

Pictured: Nantes FC football fans lay yellow tulips in a fountain on Tuesday evening.

Football fans and pundits have taken to social media to discuss the apparent tragedy with many drawing comparisons between this incident and the helicopter crash which killed the Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha last year.

Terribly worrying news that @CardiffCityFC’s new signing, Emiliano Sala was on board the small plane that has gone missing. Hopefully, somehow, they’ll be found and safe.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 22, 2019

Pictured below: News coverage from around the world about the incident which happened on Monday evening.

Main Picture: Sala shown in an image from his Instagram account several months ago.