October 29, (THEWILL) – The parents of Liverpool forward, Luis Diaz, have been kidnapped in Colombia, authorities in the South American country confirmed on Sunday.
Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, has since been rescued but his father remains missing after the two were stopped by armed men on motorbikes. Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated on social media that Diaz’s mother had been freed in a “padlock operation” but search efforts continue for the player’s father.
In a statement, the Colombian Attorney General’s office said that since learning of the kidnapping, a team of prosecutors, investigators and police and military personnel have taken urgent action to find Diaz’s parents, determine the sequence of events, and identify the perpetrators. The office said the search efforts are ongoing.
Liverpool confirmed the club is in contact with Diaz and offering assistance during this difficult time. “It is our fervent hope that the matter is resolved safely and at the earliest possible opportunity,” the club said in a statement. “In the meantime, the player’s welfare will continue to be our immediate priority.”
The Colombian Football Federation also expressed solidarity with Diaz and his family and called for authorities to act quickly to resolve the situation. The 25-year-old is one of Colombia’s top footballers and a key player for Liverpool.
Diaz is not in the matchday squad for Liverpool’s English Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, as the Reds confirmed their focus is on supporting the player and his family. Colombian authorities continue search efforts to locate his father and capture those responsible for the kidnapping.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
