Liverpool ace, Luis Díaz’s father has been freed by his captors after police in Colombia confirmed the release.
Colombian radio station LA FM said Luis Manuel Diaz will first be transported to the Colombian city of Valledupar. From there, he’ll be taken back to Diaz’s hometown of Barrancas, where he and his wife were first abducted last month.
It was confirmed last week that the Colombian terrorist group, Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN), was responsible for Diaz Sr’s kidnapping from a Barrancas petrol station on October 28. Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was also abducted in the same incident, though she was rescued the following day while her partner remained captive.
But more than a week after the Colombian military ignited a ‘major search’ for Diaz’s dad, the pair are set to be reunited. That’s if local reports in Colombia and Venezuela are to be believed regarding recent developments.
The ELN have been in contact with authorities since their part in the kidnapping was uncovered. That includes communication with Colombia’s President, Gustavo Petro, though it was briefly feared a breakdown in the channels may have resulted in any chances of retrieval being spoiled.
Developments over a release come after Diaz made an emotional return to Liverpool’s squad over the weekend. The winger came off the bench to score a much-needed equaliser at Luton Town, revealing a message on his undershirt that read: “Libertad Para Papa (Freedom for Papa).
