Jurgen Klopp says Luis Diaz is ‘very happy’ after his father was released from captivity in Colombia and is prepared to play against Toulouse in the Europa Conference League
- Jurgen Klopp says Luis Diaz is ‘very happy’ following the release of his father
- Luis Manuel Diaz had been captured at gunpoint by guerilla terrorist group ELN
- DOMINIC KING: I don’t understand what football is anymore – It’s All Coming Up
Jurgen Klopp said Luis Diaz is ‘really happy’ and prepared to play against Toulouse in the Europa Conference League after his father was rescued.
Diaz’s father has finally been freed from kidnappers 12 days after he was captured at gunpoint.
The Liverpool star missed two games but came on to score a late equaliser against Luton at the weekend and starts against Toulouse.
Klopp told TNT Sports: ‘It looks like Lucho is really happy, thumbs up all the time, so it looks very good but I’m not the one to release anything. Obviously, timing-wise, couldn’t have been better. If it’s today, great. That’s all I can say.
‘Yes, we ask him [if he wants to play], he wants to, good, he will.’
Luis Diaz is ‘very happy’ and prepared to play after the released of his father from captivity, says Jurgen Klopp
This is the first image of Luis Manuel Diaz (pictured, centre), the father of Liverpool attacker Luis Diaz, after he was rescued following his kidnapping back on October 28
Klopp named Luis Diaz in his starting line-up against Toulouse after a horrifying two weeks for the winger
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Liverpool released the following statement: ‘We are delighted by the news of Luis Diaz’s father’s safe return and we thank all those involved in securing his release.’
The news broke that Luis Manuel Diaz had been taken into the hands of a ‘Humanitarian Commission’ made up of the Catholic Church & the UN’ on Thursday.
The 58-year-old was taken along with the forward’s mother when they stopped for watermelons at a petrol station on Saturday, October 28.
Colombia’s anti-government National Liberation Army (ELN), a left-wing guerrilla group, were subsequently found to be responsible.
Diaz saw his mother rescued hours after being kidnapped but, amid significant anguish, his father remained missing for 12 days.
However, it’s now been revealed that Diaz’s father has been rescued and taken to a nearby city for medical checks, with family already on their way to see him.
Diaz Snr received medical care on the mountainside after a helicopter set off to rescue him
Diaz lifted up his Liverpool shirt in his last match, his first game since the kidnapping, to release a message that said in Spanish: ‘Freedom for Papa’
Meanwhile, a statement from the Colombia FA read: ‘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.
‘Therefore, we insist on the need to maintain this activity, as well as those who are involved in it, in the sporting and administrative part and their families, outside of any scenario other than sports.’
The statement continued: ‘Behind a ball, the dreams and illusions of boys and girls, young people, women, men and adult soccer players, their loved ones and an entire country roll. Football is passion in peace. Let no one ever think of attacking that reality again!’
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