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Luis Diaz's dad has broken his silence after being released by kidnappers.
Luis Manuel Diaz was held for 12 days by Colombian terror group the National Liberation Army (ELN) after being kidnapped along with his wife, Cilenis Marulanda, on Saturday October 28. Police recovered Cilenis just a few hours later, but Luis wasn't so lucky.
Police worked with the Colombian government to secure his release, and the 58-year-old was finally set free on Thursday, after nearly two weeks of hell. Speaking to local press after his release, the father of the Liverpool forward said he was motivated to keep going by his son to keep going.
READ MORE: Luis Diaz’s dad finally rescued as kidnappers hand him over to end Liverpool star's torment
READ MORE: Luis Diaz’s dad’s release ‘confirmed’ after Liverpool star’s emotional plea
He revealed that the Premier League ace had told him "to keep going because things don't end here and to have a lot of strength to recover from everything that has happened". Diaz Sr also revealed that no money was exchanged when he was released.
"There was no offer of resources," he said. "There was no need, everything was done legally, thank God. They did not request any resources, but that did not happen."
The Colombian Football Federation issued a brief statement shortly after his release which 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 Luis Manuel Diaz, father of our player Luís Diaz, possible."
Diaz Jr was in France with the Liverpool squad that lost 3-2 to Toulouse in the Europa League at the time his father's release was confirmed. The player bravely chose to play against Luton on Sunday, when there was no telling whether his father would be released, and ended up scoring a last-minute equaliser.
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He dedicated his goal his to his dad and celebrated by revealing a t-shirt under his Liverpool top which read: "Libertad Para Papa' ('Freedom for Papa').
Heart-warming footage showed Diaz arriving back in his hometown of Barrancas on Thursday, where hundreds of family, neighbours and friends had lined the streets to greet him. An emotional Diaz was seen hugging relatives, and later told the press: "I thank God for this second chance".
He returned home with an injured knee after his captors forced him to walk through the jungle for almost a week in a bid to evade police.
- Liverpool FC
- Breaking News
- Premier League
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