Emiliano Sala sent an audio message from the air into a WhatsApp group chat before the plane that he was travelling to Cardiff on disappeared en route.
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Having been confirmed as a new Cardiff City player already, Sala was travelling from Nantes to Wales when his plane was lost in transit.
"Hello, little brothers, how are you crazy people?" Sala began in the voice message.
"Brother, I'm dead. I was here in Nantes doing things, things, things and things, it never stops.
"I'm here on a plane that looks like it's about to fall apart, and I'm going to Cardiff.
"Tomorrow, we will start and in the afternoon I start training with my new team. Let's see what happens. How are you brothers and sisters, all right?
"If in an hour and a half you have no news from me, I don't know if they are going to send someone to look for me because they cannot find me, but you know... Dad, how scared am I!?"
Cardiff's record signing completed his £15million move to the Premier League club over the weekend to help boost their fight to avoid relegation.
The 28-year-old then made a quick trip back to North-West France where he wanted to collect some belongings before making his permanent switch to Wales.
Sala used the opportunity to visit his Nantes team-mates where he caught up with the squad and then posed for a group photograph as a memento of the moment.
And in a poignant message, the Argentinian posted the snap to his Instagram account with the simple message "La Ultima Ciao" - "The last goodbye".
Sala then left the club to make the trip back to South Wales - and has yet to arrive amid reports a light-aircraft has gone missing somewhere near the Channel Islands.
Cezbdkmpuz
589
Lord pls protect this innocent young footballer with a lot ahead of him and the others in that plane. Amen
lezcmruyz
484
Why, Cardiff City didn't use their official plane to bring in their most expensive player. This is Cardiff City fault. I must blamed them this guy missing. OMG please protect this guy in Jesus Christ Name, Amen.
Omolowo1
301
Damn l have lost my bet because l was going to bet on you to score anytime for Cardiff on midweek. Please return and play for your team and let me win my bet, your family needs you more than ever and the fans too#WEPRAYFORYOU SALA
Chelseafan1984
260
Look. We don’t want another repetition of Vichai or Malaysia Airlines. Sala, you are a phenomenal striker. Plz join us and plz plz plz lord be with him and save him! God bless sala!
Nesaiknruy_Legend
35
My prayers are with him and hopefully he turns out to be safe as does those on board with him as well. Thoughts are with Sala and others on the aircraft and we hope to see you turn up at Cardiff grounds training with your new teammates. Also these planes seriously need to have built in safety systems cos this is ridiculous how people keep getting into these unfortunate accidents...
kuybcimnru
11
Damn l have lost my bet because l was going to bet on you to score anytime for Cardiff on midweek. Please return and play for your team and let me win my bet, your family needs you more than ever and the fans too#WEPRAYFORYOU SALA
That wasn’t a good comment😕 we are all worried for sala your worried of ur betting that’s not good. May God protect him wherever he is
hozabdi
9
Damn l have lost my bet because l was going to bet on you to score anytime for Cardiff on midweek. Please return and play for your team and let me win my bet, your family needs you more than ever and the fans too#WEPRAYFORYOU SALA
unbelievable everyone is more concerned about his life and you are more concerned about your profit out of him? horrible and get back to your sense bro
EmalelaVentures
8
Why, Cardiff City didn't use their official plane to bring in their most expensive player. This is Cardiff City fault. I must blamed them this guy missing. OMG please protect this guy in Jesus Christ Name, Amen.
for us Christian we believe Jesus is God. don't confuse people with that terrorism religion