The father of Emiliano Sala, the footballer who died in a plane crash earlier this year, died of a heart attack on Friday in Progreso, Argentina.
Horacio Sala was 58.
Emiliano Sala was on a plane that crashed in the English Channel in January on his way back to Cardiff City, where he had just become the club’s record signing after four standout years with FC Nantes. It took two weeks to recover his body to confirm his death.
The Argentine forward was 28 at the time of his death and at the start of December was tied with Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot race in France.
Tributes from around the globe poured in for Emiliano Sala, perhaps none more poignant than a photo of his dog waiting for him to return. There were, however, some who chose to mock his death.
Horacio Sala’s death three months after that of his son is a devastating blow to the Sala family and the footballing world as a whole.
“Unfortunately, he felt a sharp pain in his chest in the early hours (of Friday) and suffered a heart attack," said Daniel Ribero, the president of local club San Martin del Progreso where Emiliano began his youth career and a friend of Horacio, to a local TV station. “By the time the doctors arrived he had already died. I recently saw him and spoke to him. He seemed to be gradually getting back to his routine. We spoke for half an hour and even told a joke. The news comes as a surprise as Horacio leaves us at 58.
“It leaves another void. We had been in constant contact for a month during the disappearance of the plane and this is very sad news.”
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