Luis Diaz: Parents of Liverpool star kidnapped by gunmen - club confirm ‘ongoing situation’

The parents of Liverpool forward Luis Diaz were kidnapped by gunmen on motorbikes in his home country of Colombia. The international footballer’s mother has been rescued in a police operation but his father remains missing. Diaz has returned to South America.

The 26-year-old’s parents were taken from near a service station in Barrancas as they drove home, according to reports coming out of Colombia. Liverpool have confirmed there is an "ongoing situation involving the family of Luis Diaz" and have offered their support.

His mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was rescued in a ‘padlock operation’ by police in the city of Barrancas, Colombia’s President, Gustavo Petro, said. She has since spoken with police director William Rene Salamanca, who said ‘he is using every available agent’ to find Diaz’s father.

The Attorney General said on X: “From the moment we learned of the kidnapping of the parents of the Colombian player Luis Diaz, in the Barrancas sector of La Guajira, a specialised team of prosecutors, police and military personnel have been working to find the location of these people, clarify the facts and find those responsible.”

In a statement, the player’s club said: “Liverpool Football Club can confirm it is aware of an ongoing situation involving the family of Luis Diaz in Colombia. It is our fervent hope that the matter is resolved safely and at the earliest possible opportunity. In the meantime, the player’s welfare will continue to be our immediate priority.”

Diaz, who was signed from Porto in January 2022 in an initial £37.5million deal, did not feature in Liverpool’s 5-1 Europa League victory over Toulouse on Thursday but had been expected to return for Nottingham Forest’s Premier League visit to Anfield on Sunday.