On Saturday, while driving in the northern Colombian province of La Guajira, armed men abducted Diaz’s father, Luis Manuel Diaz, and mother, Cilenis Marulanda.
Manager Jurgen Klopp stated that Luis Diaz will determine for himself if he can play for Liverpool in Sunday’s English Premier League game at Luton Town in the wake of his parents’ kidnapping.
On Saturday, while driving in La Guajira, northern Colombia, armed men abducted Diaz’s father, Luis Manuel Diaz, and mother, Cilenis Marulanda.
After Marulanda was set free in a matter of hours, the abductors announced on Thursday that his father would also be set free.
“If he feels comfortable being with us, he will. At Friday’s news conference, Klopp said, “You can see he didn’t sleep a lot.”
“We are somewhat encouraged by the news out of Colombia. I have no idea what we’ll decide. Whether or not he makes himself available is up to him.”
According to Colombia’s government, the kidnapping was carried out by the ELN.
According to Interior Minister Luis Fernando Velasco, the situation is “very serious” and goes against the terms of the ceasefire between the rebels and the government.
The government’s peace delegation tasked with negotiating with the ELN demanded earlier on Thursday that Diaz’s father be freed right away. “As soon as possible,” ELN representative Juan Carlos Cuellar announced to a community meeting, Diaz’s father would be released.
In an effort to put an end to the ELN’s involvement in Colombia’s 60-year conflict, peace negotiations between the government and the group were reopened last year.