In a piece of heart-breaking news for football lovers all over, the body which was said to be found in the English Channel plane wreckage has been identified as Cardiff City forward Emiliano Sala.
Sala had been en route from Nantes in western France on Jan. 21 to make his debut for Premier League team Cardiff City when the small aircraft he was traveling in disappeared over the English Channel. The single-engined Piper Malibu aircraft had crashed into the sea.
The wreckage of the plane was found on Sunday following a privately-funded underwater search. The body of the pilot – David Ibbotson – is yet to be found.
After the release of the official statement by Dorset Police regarding body identification, football fraternity started to pay tributes to the former Nantes forward.
"The body brought to Portland Port today, Thursday 7 February 2019, has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala. The families of Mr Sala and the pilot David Ibbotson have been updated with this news and will continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers," Dorset Police had said in an official statement.
Sala had scored 12 goals for Nantes, who are currently placed 15th in the Ligue 1 standings. Cardiff who are struggling in the Premier League had signed the young striker to bring in some lethal attack in front of the goal.
The £15m transfer fee agreed for Sala beats the £11m transfer of Chile international Gary Medel in 2013.
