Emiliano Sala 1990-2019: born in Argentina, made in France, a popular player | Football News

2:43

A timeline since the disappearance of Emiliano Sala on January 21st

Neil Warnock, Cardiff's boss, called Emiliano Sala a "type of coach player," after the alliance between work ethic and finishing skills had earned him a record of club in Premier League.

Twelve goals in 19 caps for Ligue 1's French club Nantes this season had convinced Cardiff to spend 18 million pounds for the 28-year-old in January, and Sala was eager to take up the challenge.

Unfortunately, Sala has unfortunately never had the chance to play in the Premier League. The plane that was carrying him with his pilot David Ibbotson in the Welsh city disappeared Monday, January 21st.

The wreckage was later found off Guernsey and police announced Thursday night that a body found in the plane had been officially identified as Sala.

Sala works hard, he works his socks for the team. This is a type of manager player.

Neil Warnock, director of Cardiff

Born in Argentina, Sala, originally from Santa Fe, began his career as a junior player at Club Proyecto Crecer, before leaving for France in 2010 where he would make a name for himself as a powerful leader.

The 6-foot-2 striker signed for the first time in Bordeaux at age 20 and made his senior team debut for the club in February 2012 as a substitute in a 3-1 defeat of the Coupe de France against Lyon, on the outside.

Sala made only 11 appearances for Bordeaux

However, he did not make more than a few appearances for Bordeaux and, after borrowing from Orleans and Chamois Niortais, and a brief stint in Caen, where he scored five goals in 13 appearances in Ligue 1, Nantes signed the attacker. on a five-year contract in July 2015 for an amount of € 1 million reported.

It is in Brittany that his career begins to flourish.

Sala has been Nantes' scorer for the past two seasons

In three and a half seasons at the Stade de la Beaujoire, Sala scored 42 goals in 101 league games.

Last season, he played under the leadership of Claudio Ranieri, the boss of Fulham. That's Sala who offered his first win to former Leicester City manager with a 1-0 win over Troyes. He then scored 12 times under Ranieri, finishing top scorer of the club while Nantes was ninth in Ligue 1.

The manager and his player – an easy-going figure who read books, played guitar – had a loving relationship. "Ranieri brought his great experience, his serenity and an Italian style that we sometimes saw in a match," said Sala. L & # 39; Team last season.

Their connection even allowed Sala to join the January move to Fulham de Ranieri, in anticipation of the ongoing transfer.

Sala played under Claudio Ranieri in Nantes last season

"People see how he fights for each ball, which encourages his teammates to do the same, which is a good example for everyone," Ranieri said of Sala last season.

Despite Ranieri's departure from Nantes at the end of the 2017/18 season, the impressive form of Sala is maintained. Only Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani, Nicolas Pepe and Neymar have advanced in the current campaign.

Last October, Sala became the first player to score a Ligue 1 hat trick for Nantes since Mamadou Diallo's hat-trick against FC Sochaux-Montbeliard in 2006 and he had a warm relationship with the club and his supporters.

Sala scored 42 league goals for Nantes

Argentina scored their last goal for Nantes in their 3-2 win against Marseille in December and made their last appearance for the club on Jan. 16, leaving the bench for the final 18 minutes of a 1- 0 against Nimes.

Sala stayed on for another match to help Nantes get to Nîmes, injured by an injury, before bidding farewell to his coaches and teammates the following Monday morning, posting on Twitter a picture of his former colleagues with a friend. emoji heart. and inevitably "The Ultima Ciao" – the last goodbye.

But Sala was also excited to get noticed with her new club. "A new Sala" would enter the Premier League. He hoped to face Mohamed Salah from Liverpool.

"I am very happy to be here, it makes me very happy and I can not wait to start coaching, meeting new teammates and getting to work."

"For me, it's special [to be the club’s record signing]. I came here to work and help my teammates and the club. I can not wait to get to work immediately and do everything I can. "

As the club struggled to avoid relegation, boss Warnock praised Sala's committed approach to the match.

Sala has moved to Cardiff for signing the club record

"I like him, he's a hard worker," said Warnock after the confirmation of the transfer. "He is not going to break down the walls right now, but we need strikers.

"The people we are looking at are types of players who will be part of our team – he works hard, works hard for the team, sometimes does not pay attention, but is the type of player l & # 39; coach. "

This work ethic brought Sala to the top of the hierarchy.

But, as a person, he was even more appreciated by those who knew him best in Nantes.

It was sad to leave his friends in the French city and the tearful tributes that followed showed his immense popularity.