Liverpool's masterclass to stop Luis Diaz leaving for Barcelona

Liverpool FC airlifted the family of Colombian striker Luis Diaz to spend Christmas in England as they recover from the ordeal of kidnapping in his home country. Diaz's father was released last week after being held for 12 days by guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN). Luis Manuel Díaz was kidnapped together with his wife Cilenis Marulanda on 28 October. The woman was released hours later and a massive ground and air search operation was launched to locate her husband.

Luis Diaz was reunited with his parents on Tuesday on his return to Colombia during the international break. The Liverpool striker then scored a brace in a 2-1 win over Brazil in the World Cup-2026 qualifiers. Liverpool chartered a private flight that arrived in England on Saturday with Diaz's parents and other close family members to spend the New Year holidays in the English city.

Diaz will join them in England after representing Colombia in Tuesday's away match against Paraguay.  The Reds have a busy schedule after the international break, with 11 matches between 25 November and 1 January. Luis Diaz, Liverpool and Colombia star, has been linked with Barcelona in recent days, so his father spoke on the subject and, although he assured that for now there is no formal offer, confessed that 'Lucho' is a faithful follower of the blaugranas.

His dad wants him at Barcelona

"It's true that Luis is a Barcelona fan, but he has never come to tell me 'hey dad, I'm looking forward to this' or anything. For now I'm just grateful for the way Porto and Liverpool have welcomed my son," said 'Mane' Diaz in an interview with a Colombian channel. "I know very little about this, everything we see about it is on networks. It is true that it will be a dream for him to play there, but for the moment I am just grateful for the way they have welcomed him. If one day he plays for Barcelona there is no problem because it is also an elite club," added the father of 'Lucho', who was released just last week after being kidnapped in his native Colombia.