Nantes staff have removed the words ‘keep hope’ from the club’s tribute to Emiliano Sala now he has been confirmed dead, aged 28.
The body recovered from the plane wreckage in the English Channel was confirmed to be Sala on Thursday, and tributes have since poured in for Cardiff City’s club-record signing.
An aircraft carrying Sala and pilot David Ibbotson went missing over the Channel two days after the striker signed for the Premier League side, and a privately-funded search – led by ‘Shipwreck Hunter’ David Mearns – located the wreckage earlier this week.
One body was discovered in the wreckage, and it was identified as Sala on Thursday.
A Dorset Police statement read: “The body brought to Portland Port today, Thursday February 7 2019, has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala.
“The families of Mr Sala and the pilot David Ibbotson have been updated with this news and will continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers.
“Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.”
Emiliano Sala: Born in Argentina, forged in France, and tragically taken on his way to England
One of the most endearing tributes to Sala stands outside Nantes’ Stade de la Beaujoire, with a poster showing the striker’s face surrounded by flowers and scarves.
The poster was erected soon after the aircraft carrying Sala went missing on January 21, and it bore the words ‘gardons espoire’ – which translates as ‘keep hope’.
However, heartbreaking pictures have emerged of club staff removing the phrase from the poster now Sala has been confirmed dead.
Reports on Friday claimed Cardiff may face a transfer ban over Sala’s move from Nantes, as the Premier League club have not yet paid the first instalment of the £15million transfer fee to the Ligue 1 side.