Liverpool have released a statement after Luis Diaz’s parents were kidnapped by gunmen on motorbikes in Colombia. The winger’s mother has been rescued but his father remains missing, with the terrifying ordeal likely to see Jurgen Klopp leave Diaz out of the squad to face Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.
Police stormed in to rescue Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, in the city of Barrancas, as confirmed by Colombian president Gustavo Petro on social media. Senior political figures in the country are now going all out to find the 26-year-old’s father.
Army resources have also been deployed, with the pair reportedly stopped by gunmen while driving to their home. Amid an ongoing situation, Liverpool have released an official club statement.
“Liverpool Football Club can confirm it is aware of an ongoing situation involving the family of Luis Diaz in Colombia,” it read. “It is our fervent hope that the matter is resolved safely and at the earliest possible opportunity. In the meantime, the player’s welfare will continue to be our immediate priority.”
The Reds’ statement comes after the Colombian FA (FCF) released one of their own, which began: “The Colombian Football Federation rejects the security situation that the parents of our player Luis Diaz are going through.
“From the FCF, we express our solidarity with him and his entire family, and we call for the relevant authorities to act as quickly as possible to resolve the situation.”
Although there has been no confirmation from Anfield, it seems unlikely that Klopp will call on Diaz for Liverpool’s Premier League meeting with Nottingham Forest, which kicks off at 14:00 (BST) on Sunday afternoon.
Diaz has only been left out of the starting XI in one league game up to this point in the season, and he came on as a substitute in the other. The forward has three goals in all competitions, most recently scoring in the Europa League win over LASK in September.
“He’s a natural player,” said Klopp earlier this year. “I love him, absolutely love him. It’s unbelievable. He’s so football smart, moving in the right areas, naturally defending from his position, goal threat, speed, cheeky. Very, very special player, I have to say.”
Born in Barrancas, Diaz played professionally in his homeland until the age of 22. Two-and-a-half seasons at Porto then prompted Liverpool to sanction a lucrative £37million deal in January last year.
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