By Alex Bywater
Cardiff City fans have continued to leave tributes outside their stadium as the search goes on for Emiliano Sala.
Police on Guernsey resumed the search on Wednesday for the missing plane carrying the striker and his pilot who were on their way from Nantes on Monday night.
Both are feared dead after the light aircraft disappeared from radar signal and the shock and distress over the fate of their record signing is continuing to occupy the thoughts of fans who gathered at the stadium.
Scarves and flowers were left by six fans who met Sala after he had signed for the Bluebirds last Friday.
Oliver Watson, 17, from Barry and his five friends posed with a smiling Sala just minutes after he’d signed on the dotted line
“We spotted Emiliano’s car in the car park at the weekend,” Watson said. “We saw him in the window of the stadium signing paperwork, so we hung around to try and meet him.
“His agent said he’d be about 10 minutes if we wanted to wait. He eventually came out and said hello. He was just so nice and very friendly. He couldn’t speak much English, but that didn’t matter to us.
“He couldn’t stop smiling. It was a brief encounter, but he asked how we were and that was really nice. When I saw the news, I just couldn’t believe it. It was shock. I can’t believe it’s happened.
“He hasn’t even played a game for the club, but he signed for us which means he’ll always be part of the club. We’ll never forget him.”
Sala had been involved in protracted negotiations over joining Cardiff, before agreeing the switch. Cardiff fans hoped the Argentinian would bring the goals to help Neil Warnock’s men avoid relegation.
Now their team’s battle against the drop pales into insignificance.
“To me, Sala is a Bluebird. He signed for Cardiff and not many players want to sign for us,” said supporter David Tugwell.
“If you join our club you’re part of Cardiff City and that’s why I felt I had to come down and pay tribute.”
Cardiff’s players cancelled training yesterday in light of the accident but are expected to resume preparations today for the next game against Arsenal next Tuesday.
In Nantes, French supporters gathered in the city’s central square and laid tulips, the club’s symbol, in tribute to Sala.
Keith Morgan, chairman of Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust, said: “Sala never played for Cardiff City. Tragically, it seems the chance he would have had to do that has been taken from him.
“I’ve been a football fan all my life and I often tell my wife I love it more than her, but at times like this, football doesn’t matter at all. We are thinking of Sala and his family.”
After the tragic death of Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash last year, it is scarcely believable a similar accident has hit football only three months later.
Vince Alm, of Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust, said: “Following the Leicester helicopter tragedy, this is another huge shock, but just like the Foxes did, Cardiff will rally together.
It has emerged Sala expressed concerns about the plane on the flight, according to an audio message sent to friends and relatives.
“I’m on a plane that looks like it’s going to fall apart, and I’m leaving for Cardiff,” Sala said in a WhatsApp audio message carried by Argentine media.
