Liverpool winger, Luis Diaz, has taken to Instagram to call for support from his followers in the quest to find his kidnapped father, Luis Manuel Diaz. This heart-breaking ordeal began on October 28 when two armed men abducted Diaz’s parents near their hometown in Barrancas, Colombia.
Although his mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was rescued on the same day, his father remains missing.
In a touching display of solidarity, Diogo Jota, a fellow Liverpool player, held up Luis Diaz’s jersey during the team’s 3-0 Premier League victory against Nottingham Forest on October 29. Diaz himself was absent from the match, clearly affected by the ongoing crisis.
The 26-year-old winger has initiated a call to action with an Instagram story, urging people to join a march for the liberation of his father, captioned: “March for the liberation of Mane Diaz.”
Colombia’s attorney general, Francisco Barbosa, has suggested that Luis Diaz’s father may be in Venezuela. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has pledged his support to locate and free Mane Diaz, and security forces have been deployed in the effort.
As Diaz continues to grapple with this personal tragedy, Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp, has expressed his admiration for Diogo Jota’s gesture, holding up Luis Diaz’s shirt during the Nottingham Forest win. Klopp stated, “It was really touching but wonderful as well.”
Diaz’s absence from the pitch is expected to continue, with his likely non-participation in the upcoming league clash against Luton Town on November 5. This season, he has made 11 appearances for the Reds, contributing three goals and an assist across all competitions.