The father of Liverpool star Luis Diaz has spoken out for the first time sincebeing released from being kidnapped in Colombia.
Luis Manuel Diaz was released from his kidnapping ordeal on Thursday (Photo: Getty)
Luis Manuel Diaz was released by the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) on Thursday having spent just under two weeks in captivity.
Both parents of Diaz were kidnapped on 28th October, though his mother Cilenis Marulanda was released shortly afterwards, with the winger begging the ELN to free his father last weekend after scoring on his return for Liverpool.
Diaz Snr. has now broken his silence on the ordeal, revealing what his son said to him after he had been freed.
The Liverpool winger’s dad became emotional as he relived a conversation with his son following the release Credit: AFP
Liverpool’s Diaz (L) with his mum and dad Luis Manuel Credit: Supplied
In a press conference he told local media: ‘I had the opportunity to greet him before he played a soccer match with his club [Liverpool’s Europa League loss at Toulouse on Thursday evening].
‘And I was happy because I was already with my family, with my wife, with my son, with Luis’ mother-in-law, with Alejandro and with some people who accompanied us.
‘[Diaz told me] to keep going because things don’t end here and to have a lot of strength to recover from everything that has happened.’
He went onto say: ‘There was no offer of resources, there was no need, everything was done legally, thank God.
‘They did not request any resources, but that did not happen.’
After his release, the a statement from the Colombia Football Federation was released, reading: ‘The Colombian Football Federation thanks the National Government, the Military Forces and the National Police, as well as all the institutions and officials that made the release of Luís Manuel Díaz, father of our player Luís Díaz, possible.
‘Football as a sporting discipline symbolizes talent, dedication, teamwork and the intrinsic values of human beings. In Colombia it must continue to be a benchmark for entertainment, healthy competition, unity and joy.
‘Football is passion in peace. Let no one ever think of attacking that reality again!’
