Luis Díaz was finally reunited with his parents on Tuesday.
The Liverpool player flew home to Colombia on Tuesday ahead of the national team’s World Cup clash with Brazil later this week. When he arrived in Barranquilla, his parents, Luis Manuel Díaz Sr. and Cilenis Marulanda, waiting for him – which marked the first time Luis was able to see his parents after they were kidnapped at the end of last month.
📸!
Así fue el emocionte encuentro de Lucho con su papá Mané Díaz and his family💛💛💙❤️
¡It is a challenge and the numbers and the other people! @LuisFDiaz19 #TodosSomosColombia🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/mtYBNUsURq
— Selección Colombia (@FCFSeleccionCol) November 14, 2023
Luis Sr. went and the kidnapping of Marulanda by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) at a gas station near Barrancas, Colombia, in October. Marulanda was rescued later that day after police set up roadblocks near the town, but Luis Sr. missing until he was finally released last week. Special forces offered a $48,000 reward for information about his recovery at one point as well.
The ELN took credit for the abduction, but said it was a mistake. The group then worked with the Colombian government to release them 12 days later.
The ELN, known locally as Ejército de Liberación Nacional, is considered a foreign terrorist organization by the US State Department. It was founded by communist leaders in 1964, and has thousands of members.
“It was a lot of horse riding, very hard, a lot of hills, a lot of rain, too many bugs,” Luis Sr. said. about his nearly two-week problem, via BeinSports. “I couldn’t sleep peacefully, it was very difficult, almost 12 days without sleep. “
The younger Díaz joined Liverpool from Porto last year in a deal reported to reach $45.7 million. He missed two games for Liverpool while his parents were kidnapped, but then scored in the 95th minute in their 1–1 draw with Luton Town on 5 November. his sweater to reveal a shirt that read, “Libertad para papa,” or “Freedom for dad” in English.
He has scored three goals in 11 games for Liverpool this season.
