Sala's ex-football club demand £15m transfer fee

Wednesday 06 February 2019

The former football club of Emiliano Sala, who is presumed dead after a plane he was in was discovered underwater near Alderney this weekend, has demanded his £15million transfer fee.

The player had been due to join Premier League team Cardiff FC from Nantes FC, but the Piper Malibu aircraft he was travelling in disappeared over the Channel Islands while he was en route to his new football ground.

The Argentine striker was a record signing for Cardiff.

It's been reported that Cardiff are withholding the first payment until they can verify the documentation surrounding his transfer is in order.

@EmilianoSala1: "I can’t wait to start training, meet my new teammates and get down to work."

https://t.co/qhYX2deJ9G#CityAsOne pic.twitter.com/vgpAHRgdQC

— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) January 19, 2019

Nantes were said to have contacted the club via email on Thursday, as payment would normally be due within one week of a player signing.

They then sent the club a letter on Tuesday with a threat of legal action should the payment not be received within 20 days.

While the club are believed to be legally entitled to the first tranche of payment for Sala, critics on social media have described the timing of the request as insensitive.

Pictured: Emiliano Sala at his former club, Nantes FC. (Wiki/Fabrizio Neitzke)

The news comes just one day after the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said that it had begun an operation to remove a body found in the wreckage of the plane that had been carrying Mr Sala. It is unknown whether the body is that of the footballer or his pilot, Dave Ibbotson.

It is understood that Cardiff wish to first learn the results of the full investigation into Mr Sala's disappearance before handing over any money.