The first images of Luis Diaz reunited with his father on Tuesday have been released by the Colombian Football Federation, five days after being freed by his kidnappers.
Liverpool’s No.7 and his family were put through a terrifying 12-day ordeal when his father, Luis Manuel Diaz, and mother, Cilenis Marulanda, were taken by armed men on motorcycles on Saturday, October 28, in their home town of Barrancas.
Mrs Marulanda was released the next day. However, 58-year-old Diaz, known by his family as Mane, remained in the hands of his kidnappers, with their whereabouts unknown.
A search party consisted of more than 200 members of the police and military, and the indigenous people local to the Pejira Mountains, while helicopters and drones were enlisted to help aid the search.
Throughout the period Diaz remained in England over initial safety concerns. He missed Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest the day after his mother and father were taken, though returned to score an emotional equaliser in injury-time against Luton Town the week after.
His father’s release came hours before the Reds’ Europa League meeting with Toulouse in France, with there enough time for the player to contact Mane before kick-off.
Having now headed back to his homeland during the international break, the first pictures have surfaced of an emotional reunion between Diaz, his father and other family members including the Reds player’s two-year-old daughter.
As reported by Semana, the 26-year-old flew from England to Bogota, Colombia’s capital, landing at 5am local time. He made the final 711km connection flight to Barranquilas, where he was reunited with his father in a private meeting that only included family, the Colombian Football Federation’s president and the team’s manager, Nestor Lorenzo.
Diaz is expected to play both of his country’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Paraguay before travelling back to Liverpool with his mother and father coming to visit.
