Liverpool's Luis Diaz reunites with parents after harrowing kidnapping ordeal

Diaz arrived in Bogota before flying to Barranquilla – the national team base for Thursday's World Cup qualifier against Brazil – on Tuesday where he was greeted by his father Luis Manuel and mother Cilenis Marulanda.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Colombia Football Federation published pictures of the family's reunion alongside a short statement which read: "This was Lucho's exciting meeting with his father Mane Diaz and his family.

"We love you and we are more united than ever! @LuisFDiaz19. We are all Colombians."

Diaz's parents were snatched off the street just over a fortnight ago and, while his mum was freed almost immediately, his dad was held for 12 days before being released on Thursday.

The 58-year-old said of his experience: "It was a lot of horseback riding, really hard, a lot of mountains, a lot of rain, too many insects."

A weak Díaz, who was helped to and from a chair by his family, told journalists in his home town of Barrancas in Colombia: "I couldn't sleep peacefully, it was very difficult, almost 12 days without sleep."

 

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