Emiliano Sala

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Emiliano Sala

| image = Emiliano Sala.jpg

| upright =

| caption = Sala playing for Nantes in 2017

| full_name = Emiliano Raúl Sala Taffarel{{Cite web|url=https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j82370.html|title=Emiliano Sala|website=BD Futbol|accessdate=25 July 2022}}

| birth_date = {{birth date |1990|10|31|df=y}}{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/6252/Emiliano-Sala/overview|title=Emiliano Sala: Overview|publisher=Premier League|access-date=25 July 2022}}

| birth_place = Cululú, Argentina

| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|01|21|1990|10|31|df=y}}

| death_place = English Channel, off Alderney, Channel Islands

| height = 1.87 m{{cite web|url=http://www.fcnantes.com/groupepro/20172018/fiche.php?numjoueur=144|title=Emiliano Sala|publisher=FC Nantes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201053643/http://www.fcnantes.com/groupepro/20172018/fiche.php?numjoueur=144|archive-date=1 February 2018|url-status=dead}}

| position = Striker

| youthyears1 = 1994–2005

| youthclubs1 = Club San Martín de Progreso

| youthyears2 = 2005–2007

| youthclubs2 = Proyecto Crecer

| years1 = 2007–2008

| clubs1 = Soledad B

| caps1 = 6

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2009

| clubs2 = Crato

| caps2 = 1

| goals2 = 2

| years3 = 2010–2015

| clubs3 = Bordeaux

| caps3 = 11

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2012–2013

| clubs4 = → Orléans (loan)

| caps4 = 37

| goals4 = 19

| years5 = 2013–2014

| clubs5 = → Niort (loan)

| caps5 = 37

| goals5 = 18

| years6 = 2015

| clubs6 = → Caen (loan)

| caps6 = 13

| goals6 = 5

| years7 = 2015–2019

| clubs7 = Nantes

| caps7 = 120

| goals7 = 42

| years8 = 2019

| clubs8 = Cardiff City

| caps8 = 0

| goals8 = 0

| totalcaps = 225

| totalgoals = 88

}}

Emiliano Raúl Sala Taffarel ({{IPA|es|emiˈljano ˈsala}}; 31 October 1990 – 21 January 2019) was an Argentine professional footballer who played as a striker.

After playing youth football in Argentina and following a short spell in Portugal's regional leagues, Sala began his professional career in France with Bordeaux, making his professional debut in February 2012. After struggling to break into the first team, he was loaned out to Championnat National side Orléans and Ligue 2 side Niort in consecutive seasons. He enjoyed prolific spells with both clubs, scoring 39 goals between them, before returning to Bordeaux. After initially being promised an increased role after his successful loans, Sala fell out of favour again, and instead, joined fellow Ligue 1 side Caen on loan.

In 2015, he signed for Nantes on a permanent basis. With Nantes, he made more than 100 appearances in Ligue 1, and achieved a successful goalscoring record, finishing as the club's top goalscorer for three consecutive seasons. His form prompted a move to Cardiff City in January 2019, for a club record fee of £15 million (€18 million).

Sala was killed in a plane crash off Alderney on 21 January 2019. He was a passenger aboard a Piper Malibu light aircraft flying from Nantes to Cardiff. An initial three-day search that covered {{convert|1,700|sqmi|km2|order=flip}} across the English Channel failed to locate the crash site. Two subsequent private searches were launched, resulting in the discovery of the wreckage on 3 February 2019; Sala's body was recovered four days later.

Early and personal life

Emiliano Raúl Sala Taffarel was born in the town of Cululú, Santa Fe Province.{{cite news |url=https://vaaju.com/colombiaeng/its-hopeless-you-cant-believe-emiliano-sala-father-after-the-disappearance-of-the-flight/ |title="It's hopeless, you can't believe": Emiliano Sala father after the disappearance of the flight |website=vaaju.com |date=22 January 2019 |access-date=22 January 2019 |archive-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123012102/https://vaaju.com/colombiaeng/its-hopeless-you-cant-believe-emiliano-sala-father-after-the-disappearance-of-the-flight/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/missing-plane-latest-emiliano-sala-feared-to-be-on-board-flight-travelling-to-cardiff-from-nantes-a4045271.html |title=Emiliano Sala feared dead: desperate hunt for missing plane with Cardiff City's new £15m striker on board called off for the night |newspaper=London Evening Standard |date=22 January 2019 |access-date=22 January 2019}} He was born prematurely, with concerns that the respiratory issues may prevent him from being able to run.{{Cite news |title='A tragic plane crash; a stain on football's reputation' |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63172547 |access-date=18 October 2022}} He held an Italian passport.

His father worked as a truck driver, and the family later moved to Progreso, where Sala was raised.{{cite news |url=https://www.sofoot.com/emiliano-sala-quand-je-veux-quelque-chose-je-me-bats-439685.html |title=Emiliano Sala: Quand je Veux Quelque Chose je Me Bats |website=sofoot.com |language=fr |last=Bories |first=Flavien |date=5 March 2017 |access-date=22 January 2019}} He was a fan of Independiente,{{cite news |date=27 November 2015 |title=Todo el pueblo francés está en shock |language=es |publisher=Olé |url=https://www.ole.com.ar/fuera-de-juego/pueblo-frances-shock_0_rkJWdSzki3e.html |access-date=26 January 2019}} and, growing up, studied footage of his favourite footballer, Argentine international Gabriel Batistuta.{{cite news |url=http://www.sofoot.com/sala-j-ai-beaucoup-regarde-batistuta-180559.html |title=Sala: J'ai Beaucoup Regarde Batistuta |website=sofoot.com |language=fr |last=Bougis |first=Axel |date=14 February 2014 |access-date=22 January 2019}} Sala's parents were separated at the time of his death, and his father died of a heart attack on 26 April 2019, three months later.{{Cite news |date=26 April 2019 |title=Sala's dad dies three months after son |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-48065204 |access-date=27 April 2019}} Sala is survived by his mother and two younger siblings, sister Romina and brother Dario.{{cite news |last=Furlone |first=Aquiles |date=22 January 2019 |title=Darío, hermano de Sala: "Lo único que ha hecho toda su vida es estar con la pelota |language=es |publisher=Mundo Deportivo |url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/internacional/20190122/454262138384/dario-hermano-de-sala-lo-unico-que-ha-hecho-toda-su-vida-es-estar-con-la-pelota.html |access-date=23 January 2019}}

He is described as having been "far removed from the typical image of a star footballer." In France, he settled in Carquefou, a small town outside of Nantes, and would spend his free time with friends made there or walking his rescue dog, Nala. A local fan recalled that Sala went around town to personally say goodbye to everyone when he was set to transfer to Cardiff. Having had a close relationship with his family and Argentine friends, in his hometown of Progreso, he continues to be affectionately known as "el Emi"; matching murals of him were commissioned from the same artist in Progreso and Carquefou.

Career

=Early career=

Sala began playing football for San Martín de Progreso, where he remained until he was 15 years old.{{cite news |url=http://www.elsantafesino.com/la-region/2007/09/08/6362 |title=Joven futbolista de Progreso tiene su destino en España |publisher=El Santafesino |date=9 September 2007 |access-date=22 January 2019 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617022848/http://www.elsantafesino.com/la-region/2007/09/08/6362 |archive-date=17 June 2008 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=http://www.esperanzadiaxdia.com.ar/emiliano-sala-jugara-en-la-premier-league-de-inglaterra/ |title=Emiliano Sala jugará en la Premier League de Inglaterra |publisher=Diaxdia |language=es |date=21 January 2019 |access-date=22 January 2019 |archive-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123010135/http://www.esperanzadiaxdia.com.ar/emiliano-sala-jugara-en-la-premier-league-de-inglaterra/ |url-status=dead }} He then moved to San Francisco, Córdoba to play at football school Proyecto Crecer after being spotted by a scout. The club was directly affiliated with Spanish club RCD Mallorca and French side FC Girondins de Bordeaux, scouting local players in the area. After joining the club, he moved into a boarding house with other players from the club's youth system. He played six Preferente matches for Spanish club CD Soledad B between October 2007 and February 2008.{{cite web|url=https://puntobalonbalear.es/perfil/emiliano-r-sala/temporada/2007-2008/|title=Partidos - 2007-2008 - EMILIANO R SALA|publisher=Punto Balon Balear|language=es |access-date=9 February 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://puntobalonbalear.es/perfil/emiliano-raul-sala/temporada/2007-2008/|title=Partidos - 2007-2008 - EMILIANO RAUL SALA|publisher=Punto Balon Balear|language=es |access-date=9 February 2019}}

In 2009, while living in Granada, Spain, he was recommended to Portuguese District side FC Crato by a fellow Argentinian footballer who played there and joined the Portuguese team.{{cite news |url=https://www.record.pt/internacional/paises/inglaterra/detalhe/jogador-argentino-desaparecido-em-aviao-comecou-a-carreira-no-crato|title=Jogador argentino desaparecido em avião começou a carreira no Crato |publisher=Record |language=pt |date=22 January 2019 |access-date=23 January 2019}} Sala played one official match for Crato, scoring twice, but suddenly decided to leave the club and return to Argentina, saying that his girlfriend was "in trouble" in his homeland.{{cite news |url=https://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/noticia/quem-e-emiliano-sala-contratacao-mais-cara-do-cardiff-que-esta-desaparecida-em-voo.ghtml |title=Quem é Emiliano Sala, contratação mais cara do Cardiff que está desaparecida em voo? |publisher=Globoesporte |language=pt |date=22 January 2019 |access-date=23 January 2019}}

=Bordeaux=

At the age of 20, during the 2010–11 season,{{cite news |url=https://www.francefootball.fr/news/Recit-comment-emiliano-sala-nantes-s-est-fait-un-nom-dans-les-divisions-inferieures-avant-de-briller-en-ligue-1/881134 |title=Comment Emiliano Sala (Nantes) s'est fait un nom dans les divisions inférieures avant de briller en Ligue 1 |publisher=France Football |last=Baron |first=Jeramie |language=fr |date=4 March 2018 |access-date=22 January 2019}} Sala moved to Europe to sign for Bordeaux, the French partner club from Proyecto Crecer.{{cite news |url=http://breakingthelines.com/scout-reports/emiliano-sala-from-serie-c-reject-to-ligue-1-top-scorer/ |title=Emiliano Sala: From Serie C Reject to Ligue 1 Top Scorer |publisher=Breaking the Lines |last=Moore |first=Steven |date=21 November 2018 |access-date=22 January 2019}} After arriving in France, Sala briefly lived with the club's youth coach Marcelo Vada and his son, Sala's teammate, Valentín Vada, who were from the same region of Argentina.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/22/emiliano-sala-the-humble-forward-who-enriched-everyones-lives |title=Emiliano Sala, the humble forward who enriched everyone's lives |newspaper=The Guardian |last=White |first=Adam |date=22 January 2019 |access-date=22 January 2019}}

Having progressed through the club's reserve team, Sala grew frustrated with his lack of first-team playing time, and his agent offered him to several Italian clubs, including Sorrento, but this was rejected in each case. On 8 February 2012, Sala made his Bordeaux senior competitive debut in the 2011–12 Coupe de France round of 16 3–1 away defeat against Olympique Lyonnais, coming on as a substitute in the 105th minute for Jussiê.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=336956|title=Lyon vs. Bordeaux - Football Match Summary - February 8, 2012 - ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=3 February 2019}}

Unable to establish himself in the first team, Bordeaux hoped to loan Sala out in order to gain experience and he was expected to sign for a team in Spain before his agent rejected the move, wanting Sala to remain in France. He instead joined Championnat National side US Orléans on loan after being spotted by manager Oliver Frapolli a year previously. Frapolli described Sala as "the best player on the team, without question", as he went on to score nineteen goals for the club in 37 appearances.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} He helped the club to an eighth-place finish in the Championnat National.{{cite news |url=http://www.sofoot.com/emiliano-sala-pret-du-but-195072.html |title=Emiliano Sala: Pret du But |website=sofoot.com |language=fr |last=Rostac |first=Matthieu |date=27 February 2015 |access-date=22 January 2019}}

On 2 July 2013, Sala agreed a deal to join Ligue 2 club Chamois Niortais on loan for the entire 2013–14 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.foot-national.com/foot-niort-un-buteur-de-bordeaux-debarque-en-pret-off-47251.html |title=Niort: Un buteur de Bordeaux débarque en prêt (off.) |trans-title=Niort: Bordeaux striker arrives on loan (official) |language=fr |first=Alexandre |last=Chochois |publisher=foot-national.com |date=2 July 2013 |access-date=2 July 2013 |archive-date=6 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706001140/http://www.foot-national.com/foot-niort-un-buteur-de-bordeaux-debarque-en-pret-off-47251.html |url-status=dead }} He enjoyed a steady return through the first half of the season before finding form in March, scoring eleven goals in his final twelve appearances including scoring his first career hat-trick in a 4–2 victory over Stade Lavallois. He finished the season with 20 goals in all competitions, with his total of 18 league goals setting a new club record for goals in a single season.

At the start of the 2014–15 season, Sala was brought into the first team squad with Bordeaux by manager Willy Sagnol and was rewarded with a two-year extension to his contract.{{cite news |url=http://www.mercato365.com/bordeaux-sala-prolonge-de-deux-ans-2034933.html |title=BORDEAUX : SALA PROLONGE DE DEUX ANS |website=mercato365.com |date=3 July 2014 |access-date=27 January 2019 |archive-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128082900/http://www.mercato365.com/bordeaux-sala-prolonge-de-deux-ans-2034933.html |url-status=dead }} He scored his first senior goal for the club after converting a penalty during a 4–1 defeat to Monaco.{{cite news |url=https://www.smcaen.fr/2014-2015/actualites/groupe-pro/emiliano-sala-un-atout-supplementaire-pour-le-maintien |title=Emiliano Sala, Un Atout Supplementaire Pour Le Maintien |publisher=SM Caen |language=fr |date=28 January 2015 |access-date=22 January 2019}} However, it proved to be his only goal in eleven appearances, and he was loaned to SM Caen, another Ligue 1 club, for the second half of the 2014–15 season as a replacement for Mathieu Duhamel.{{cite web |url=http://www.smcaen.fr/2014-2015/actualites/groupe-pro/emiliano-sala-un-atout-supplementaire-pour-le-maintien |title=Emiliano Sala, un atout supplémentaire pour le maintien |language=fr |publisher=smcaen.fr |date=28 January 2015 |access-date=29 January 2015}} Caen had previously tried to sign Sala at the start of the season but had been rejected by Bordeaux. He made his debut for Caen on 1 February 2015 in a 1–0 victory over Saint-Étienne. He scored his first goal for the club in his third appearance, during a 2–2 draw with Paris Saint-Germain two weeks later, and scored a brace against RC Lens in his following match. He scored five goals for Caen during his loan spell before returning to Bordeaux.

=Nantes=

File:FBBP01 - FCN - 20151028 - Coupe de la Ligue - Sala Emiliano.jpg in 2015]]

On 20 July 2015, Sala joined Ligue 1 club Nantes on a five-year contract with Nantes paying a reported transfer fee of €1 million to Bordeaux.{{cite web|title=Nantes make Sala a canary|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/nantes-sala-canary-202245773--sow.html|publisher=Yahoo Sports|access-date=15 May 2017|date=20 July 2015|archive-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817023105/https://sports.yahoo.com/news/nantes-sala-canary-202245773--sow.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/05/argentinian-striker-season-emiliano-sala-higuain-icardi-aguero-messi |title=The most prolific Argentinian striker in Europe this season? Emiliano Sala |newspaper=The Guardian |last1=White |first1=Adam |last2=Devin |first2=Eric |date=5 November 2018 |access-date=22 January 2019}} He made his debut for Nantes on the opening day of the 2015–16 season, during a 1–0 victory over Guingamp, and scored his first goal for the club on 5 December 2015 in a 1–1 draw with Ajaccio. In January 2016, Nantes rejected a bid of £3 million from Wolverhampton Wanderers for Sala.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jan/22/wolves-emiliano-sala-nantes |title=Nantes reject £3m bid from Wolves for forward Emiliano Sala |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Aarons |first=Ed |date=22 January 2016 |access-date=23 January 2019}} In his first season, despite scoring only six times, he finished the year as the club's top goalscorer.

During his second season, Sala scored twelve league goals for Nantes, the highest scoring player in a single season for the club since Olivier Monterrubio in 2000–01.{{cite news |url=https://m.lequipe.fr/Football/Article/Emiliano-sala-taille-pour-le-combat/844123 |title=Emiliano Sala cut for the fight |newspaper=L'Equipe |last=Dupont |first=Régis |language=fr |date=20 October 2017 |access-date=27 January 2019}} He equaled his tally again in the 2017–18 season, finishing as Nantes' top scorer for the third consecutive season since his arrival at the club.{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11614419/in-profile-how-hard-work-helped-emiliano-sala-become-nantes-hero-and-earn-premier-league-transfer |title=In Profile: Emiliano Sala |publisher=Sky Sports |last=Yew |first=Oliver |date=25 January 2019 |access-date=27 January 2019}}

At the start of the 2018–19 season, Sala fell out of favour under new manager Miguel Cardoso who preferred Kalifa Coulibaly as the club's first choice striker. Turkish side Galatasaray made a late bid to sign Sala on the last day of the summer transfer window but the move later collapsed. Sala twice made goalscoring appearances as a substitute and was restored to the starting line up under Cardoso before the manager was sacked in October 2018. Vahid Halilhodžić was appointed as the club's new manager and in his first match in charge, on 20 October 2018, Sala scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 Ligue 1 home win over Toulouse. He thus became the first FC Nantes player to score three goals in a Ligue 1 match since Mamadou Diallo did so against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in February 2006.{{cite web|title=Sala hits three as Nantes crush Toulouse|url=https://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/sala-hits-three-as-nantes-crush-toulouse.htm|website=www.ligue1.com|date=20 October 2018|access-date=23 October 2018|archive-date=23 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023120122/https://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/sala-hits-three-as-nantes-crush-toulouse.htm|url-status=dead}} At the end of October, he was voted Ligue 1 Player of the Month having scored four goals in three matches during the month.{{cite news |url=https://m.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Emiliano-sala-elu-joueur-du-mois-d-octobre-de-ligue-1/958676?xtref=https:%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F |title=Ligue 1: Emiliano Sala voted best player of the month of October |newspaper=L'Equipe |language=fr |date=12 November 2018 |access-date=27 January 2019}}

Sala's good form saw him as the joint-highest goalscorer in Ligue 1 at the start of December, his tally of twelve goals tied with Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappé.{{cite news |url=https://m.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Emiliano-sala-continue-sur-sa-lancee-le-classement-dynamique-des-buteurs-de-ligue-1-apres-la-16e-journee/965690 |title=Emiliano Sala revient sur Kylian Mbappé : le classement dynamique des buteurs de Ligue 1 après la 16e journée |newspaper=L'Equipe |language=fr |date=5 December 2018 |access-date=27 January 2019}} On 5 December, Sala scored his last goal for the club in a 3–2 Ligue 1 home victory over Olympique de Marseille. On 16 January 2019, he played his final match for the club in a 1–0 Ligue 1 away defeat against Nîmes Olympique.

In 2021, it was announced that a pre-season tournament would be held in July in Sala's honour, with Nantes, Bordeaux, Caen and Niort invited to play by former Orléans goalkeeper and ex-teammate of Sala, Thomas Renault.{{cite news |last=Coquel |first=Raphaël |url=https://www.larep.fr/orleans-45000/sports/football-un-challenge-emiliano-sala-a-orleans-les-16-17-et-18-juillet_13962146/ |title=Football : un challenge Emiliano-Sala à Orléans les 16, 17 et 18 juillet |newspaper=La Republique du Centre |trans-title=Football: an Emiliano-Sala challenge in Orléans on 16, 17 and 18 July |language=fr |date=3 June 2021 |access-date=8 June 2021}}{{cite news |last=Claich |first=Nicolas |url=https://actu.fr/normandie/caen_14118/sm-caen-un-tournoi-hommage-a-emiliano-sala-pour-preparer-la-saison_42396266.html |title=Football : un challenge Emiliano-Sala à Orléans les 16, 17 et 18 juillet |newspaper=La Republique du Centre |trans-title=Un tournoi hommage à Emiliano Sala pour préparer la saison |language=fr |date=5 June 2021 |access-date=8 June 2021}}

=Cardiff City =

{{see also|Transfer of Emiliano Sala from FC Nantes to Cardiff City F.C.}}

On 19 January 2019, Sala joined Premier League side Cardiff City on a three-and-a-half-year deal for a club record transfer fee,{{cite news |title=Emiliano Sala: Cardiff City sign Nantes striker for undisclosed club-record fee |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46863238 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 January 2019 |access-date=22 January 2019}} reported to be £15 million. The transfer beat the previous club record of £11 million paid for Gary Medel in 2013.{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/cardiff-city-announce-signing-goal-15703715 |title=Cardiff City announce signing of goal ace Emiliano Sala in club record £15m deal |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Abbandonato |first=Paul |date=19 January 2019 |access-date=19 January 2019}} As part of a sell-on clause, 50% of the transfer fee was due to his first professional club Bordeaux.{{cite news |url=http://www.football365.fr/disparition-demiliano-sala-bordeaux-dement-reclame-de-largent-a-nantes-8856070.html |title=Disparitiom D'Emiliano Sala : Bordeaux Dement Avoir Reclame De L'Argent À Nantes |website=football365.fr |language=fr |date=27 January 2019 |access-date=27 January 2019}} Sala rejected a late bid from a club in the Chinese Super League to join Cardiff, despite being offered a higher salary, due to his desire to play in the Premier League.{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/cardiff-city-15m-capture-emiliano-15701795 |title=Cardiff City £15m 'capture' Emiliano Sala rejects huge 11th hour Chinese offer – French reports |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Abbandonato |first=Paul |date=19 January 2019 |access-date=22 January 2019}} Following Sala's death, Nantes demanded the transfer fee from Cardiff.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47146614|title=Emiliano Sala: Nantes demand transfer fee from Cardiff City|date=6 February 2019|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=28 August 2019}} In September 2019, FIFA ruled in Nantes' favour and ordered Cardiff to pay a first instalment of €6 million (£5.3 million), and the remainder the following January.{{cite news |title=Emiliano Sala: Fifa rules Cardiff must pay first instalment of £5.3m to Nantes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49825166 |access-date=30 September 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 September 2019}}[https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/5ca26906b7b27420/original/zz1mucunt6ydvrzqrqdw-pdf.pdf Decision of the Bureau of the Players’ Status Committee, regarding a contractual dispute arisen between the parties and relating to the player Emiliano Raul Sala. ], FIFA, Zürich 25 September 2019. In August 2022 the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the first instalment has to be paid.{{cite news |title=Cardiff to appeal over $6.65 million fee for Emiliano Sala|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/05/football/cardiff-city-emiliano-sala-nantes-cas/index.html |first=James|last=Masters|access-date=7 December 2019 |work=CNN|date=5 December 2019}} On 30 June 2023, Cardiff City was ordered by FIFA to pay Nantes the transfer balance for Sala. The sum was reportedly more than €11 million (£9.45 million), and was required to fulfil the €17 million agreed between the two clubs.{{cite news |title=Cardiff City: Football club told to pay Sala transfer balance |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66071830 |access-date=1 July 2023 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 June 2023}}

Style of play

Sala stated that he modelled his style on his idol, former Argentine international forward Gabriel Batistuta. BBC Sport compared Sala to Jamie Vardy, describing him as "a player who likes wide spaces and being part of a team that has a strong counter-attacking style."{{cite news |last=Bielderman |first=Erik |date=22 January 2019 |title=Emiliano Sala: Profile of 'a South American warrior' & the 'local Carlos Tevez |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46959232 |access-date=22 January 2019}} A large and powerful striker,{{cite web |last=Yew |first=Oli |date=23 January 2019 |title=In profile: How hard work helped Emiliano Sala become Nantes hero and earn Premier League transfer |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11614419/in-profile-how-hard-work-helped-emiliano-sala-become-nantes-hero-and-earn-premier-league-transfer |access-date=23 January 2019 |publisher=Sky Sports}} he was also recognised for his ability to hold the ball up and was described as possessing "reasonable" pace;{{cite news |last=Morgan |first=Tom |date=22 January 2019 |title=Emiliano Sala: Who is Cardiff's £15m record signing? |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/01/22/emiliano-sala-cardiffs-15m-record-signing/ |access-date=22 January 2019}} he also drew praise in the media for his work-rate, tenacity, eye for goal, and finishing ability.

Disappearance and death

File:Tributes at the Cardiff City Stadium for the missing Cardiff City (former FC Nantes) footballer Emiliano Sala. (32998930728).jpg following Sala's disappearance]]

After completing his medical at Cardiff, Sala returned to Nantes on Saturday 19 January, on a plane arranged by football agent Mark McKay.{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-football-agent-mark-mckay-15724665 |title=Who is football agent Mark McKay, his relationship with Emiliano Sala, Cardiff City and his academy twin brothers? |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Booth |first=Dominic |date=24 January 2019 |access-date=25 January 2019}} His intention was to return to Cardiff on Monday 21 January, in order to attend his first training session with his new club the following morning.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/23/cardiff-city-emiliano-sala-neil-warnock |title='Subdued' Cardiff City players train as Emiliano Sala dominates thoughts |newspaper=The Guardian |last=James |first=Stuart |date=23 January 2019 |access-date=25 January 2019}} Sala had been invited to attend Cardiff's match against Newcastle United by manager Neil Warnock, but he returned to France to say goodbye to his Nantes teammates and collect personal belongings.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/28/emiliano-salas-family-organise-air-sea-search-crowdfunding-appeal |title=Emiliano Sala's family hire submarine to hunt for missing plane |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Morris |first=Steven |date=28 January 2019 |access-date=29 January 2019}}

On 21 January, the Piper Malibu aircraft, which was flying Sala from Nantes to Cardiff, disappeared off Alderney.{{cite news |title=Emiliano Sala: Search for Cardiff City FC player's plane suspended |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-46954922 |work=BBC News |access-date=22 January 2019|date=22 January 2019 }} The same aircraft and pilot had flown Sala to Nantes two days earlier.{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/inside-search-emiliano-sala-what-15731596 |title=Inside the search for Emiliano Sala: What happened during three grueling days that ended in vain |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Lewis |first=Anna |date=26 January 2019 |access-date=26 January 2019}} On 23 January, Channel Islands Air Search reported that there was "no hope" of finding any survivors in the water.{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46966424 |title=Rescuer has 'no hope' for missing player |work=BBC News |date=23 January 2019 |access-date=23 January 2019}}

An audio message, allegedly sent from the plane by Sala to his friends via WhatsApp, was released by Argentine media outlet Olé. The audio message translates as follows:{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11615211/emiliano-salas-audio-message-from-plane|title=Emiliano Sala's audio message from plane |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=23 January 2019}} Translation is from the Sky Sports article.

{{Blockquote

|text=Hello, my brothers, how are you? Boy, I’m tired. I was here in Nantes taking care of things, things, things, things, things, things, and it never stops, it never stops, it never stops. Anyway, guys, I’m up in this plane that feels like it's falling to pieces, and I’m going to Cardiff. [It's] crazy, we start tomorrow. Training in the afternoon, guys, in my new team... Let's see what happens. So, how's it going with you guys? All good? If in an hour and a half you have no news from me, I don't know if they are going to send someone to look for me because they cannot find me, but you will know... Man, I'm scared!

}}

Guernsey Police initially searched for three days about {{convert|1,700|sqmi|km2|order=flip|abbr=on}} across the English Channel.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/25/emiliano-sala-guernsey-authorities-asked-to-resume-search|title=Emiliano Sala pilot's friends 'surprised' he took night flight|first1=Nazia|last1=Parveen|first2=Steven|last2=Morris|date=25 January 2019|website=theguardian.com|access-date=28 August 2019}} At 15:15 GMT on 24 January 2019, after a "very thorough and extensive search" including eighty hours of combined searching undertaken by three planes, five helicopters and two lifeboats, the police announced that they had called off the search for the aircraft or any survivors.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46992612|title=Emiliano Sala: Search for footballer and pilot called off|work=BBC News|date=24 January 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/24/emiliano-sala-search-for-plane-carrying-footballer-called-off|title=Emiliano Sala: search for footballer and pilot called off|date=24 January 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=24 January 2019|issn=0261-3077}} The decision led to calls worldwide for the search to continue, including numerous other footballers, among them fellow Argentine players Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín, Sergio Agüero and former player Diego Maradona.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46998598 |title=Emiliano Sala: Lionel Messi leads calls from across football for search to resume |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 January 2019 |access-date=26 January 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/messi-and-maradona-plead-for-sala-search-to-continue-37748906.html |title=Messi and Maradona plead for Sala search to continue |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=25 January 2019 |access-date=27 January 2019}} The president of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, stated his intention to request the British and French governments to resume the search.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46998548 |title=Emiliano Sala: Argentina president backs new search for footballer |work=BBC News |date=25 January 2019 |access-date=26 January 2019}} An online petition also attracted over 65,000 signatures and Sala's family later announced their decision to fund a private search.{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/emiliano-salas-family-pay-private-15730266 |title=Emiliano Sala's family to organise for private search boats and divers to find missing Cardiff City footballer |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last=Farrell-Roig |first=Estel |date=25 January 2019 |access-date=26 January 2019}} Over £280,000 was raised for this search on GoFundMe started by Sports Cover,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47019752 |title=Emiliano Sala search: Footballer's family thanks donors |work=BBC News |date=27 January 2019 |access-date=27 January 2019}} a sports agency that represented Sala.{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/emiliano-sala-live-new-search-15729722 |title=Live updates as new Emiliano Sala search launched following remarkable fundraising campaign |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last1=Doel |first1=Jon |last2=Sands |first2=Katie |date=26 January 2019 |access-date=27 January 2019}} The funds enabled the private search to commence on 26 January, with the launch of two boats, led by marine scientist David Mearns.

On 28 January, plans were announced for an underwater search to begin "within a week", dependent on weather conditions, using an unmanned remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) to search an area of seabed north of Hurd's Deep. On 29 January, Cardiff City included Sala on the team sheet for their game against Arsenal, with a daffodil next to his name in place of a squad number.{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal/arsenal-remember-emiliano-sala-with-touching-programme-tribute-to-missing-cardiff-striker-a4052301.html|title=Arsenal remember Emiliano Sala with touching programme tribute to missing Cardiff striker|first=Matt|last=McGeehan|work=Evening Standard|date=29 January 2019|access-date=29 January 2019}} On 30 January, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) reported that they had found two seat cushions washed up on a French beach, which were believed to be from the missing aircraft.{{cite news |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/parts-emiliano-sala-missing-plane-15754405 |title=Parts of missing plane carrying Emiliano Sala and pilot found on beach |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |last1=Sands |first1=Katie |last2=Walford |first2=Jessica |date=30 January 2019 |access-date=30 January 2019}}

On 3 February, another underwater search for the aircraft began, using the AAIB's Geo Ocean III vessel and a privately funded vessel, which were conducting sonar surveys of the seabed. The planned search, lasting three days, would cover an area of {{convert|4|sqnmi|km2|order=flip|abbr=off}}, about {{convert|24|nmi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} north of Guernsey.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-47103887|title=Sala plane underwater search begins|date=3 February 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=3 February 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/search-zone-for-missing-footballer-emiliano-sala-narrowed-11626218|title=Search zone for missing footballer Emiliano Sala narrowed|publisher=Sky News|last=Parmenter|first=Tom|date=3 February 2019|access-date=3 February 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/03/football/emiliano-sala-search-resumes-missing-plane-gbr-intl/index.html|title=Privately funded search for missing plane of footballer Emiliano Sala begins|first=Sheena|last=McKenzie|publisher=CNN|date=3 February 2019|access-date=3 February 2019}} At approximately 21:11 GMT, six hours after the new search began, wreckage from the aircraft was found{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/emiliano-sala-missing-premier-league-footballers-plane-found-11627529|title=Emiliano Sala: Missing Premier League footballer's plane found|publisher=Sky News|access-date=3 February 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-47111632|title=Sala plane wreckage found in Channel|date=3 February 2019|access-date=3 February 2019|language=en-GB}} at a depth of {{convert|63|m|ft fathom|round=5|abbr=off}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/feb/04/emiliano-sala-body-could-be-found-among-plane-wreckage|title=Emiliano Sala's 'body could be found among plane wreckage'|date=4 February 2019|first=Matthew|last=Weaver|work=The Guardian}} On 4 February, investigators stated that there was one body visible inside the wreckage.{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/one-occupant-visible-in-emiliano-sala-plane-wreckage-11627894|title='One occupant visible' in Emiliano Sala plane wreckage - investigators|website=Sky News|access-date=5 February 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/emiliano-sala-crash-fuselage-of-plane-with-one-body-on-still-on-board-pictured-on-seabed/ar-BBT9EYA|title=Emiliano Sala crash: fuselage of plane with one body on still on board pictured on seabed|website=MSN|access-date=5 February 2019}}

On 7 February, the body was recovered from the wreckage and taken to the Isle of Portland to be passed to the Dorset coroner.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47152773|title=Emiliano Sala search team recover body from plane wreckage|date=7 February 2019|work=BBC News}}{{cite news |last1=Mercer |first1=David |last2=Taylor |first2=Rebecca |title=Emiliano Sala search: Body recovered lands in Dorset |url=https://news.sky.com/story/body-recovered-from-emiliano-sala-plane-wreckage-11630221 |access-date=7 February 2019 |work=Sky News |date=7 February 2019 |language=en}} Later that day, Dorset Police identified the body as Sala's by means of fingerprint evidence.{{cite news |title=Body recovered from plane which crashed into English Channel confirmed as footballer Emiliano Sala |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2019-02-07/body-recovered-from-plane-which-crashed-into-english-channel-confirmed-as-footballer-emiliano-sala/ |access-date=7 February 2019 |agency=ITV News |date=7 February 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47166633|title=Emiliano Sala: Body identified as footballer|publisher=BBC|date=7 February 2019}} Nantes subsequently retired his former number 9 jersey.{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/nantes-to-retire-no9-shirt-in-honour-of-emiliano-sala-as/d9o6kts4vjhg1vh6e4ao1l59t|first=Chris|last=Burton|title= Nantes to retire No.9 shirt in honour of Emiliano Sala as they pay emotional tribute to their former striker |work=Goal.com| date= 8 February 2019}} On 11 February, the results of a post mortem reported that Sala had died of "head and trunk injuries".{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/live-updates-emiliano-sala-inquest-15811045|title=Live updates as inquest into Emiliano Sala's death adjourned|first1=Jon|last1=Doel|first2=Dominic|last2=Booth|date=11 February 2019|work=WalesOnline|publisher=Media Wales |access-date=11 February 2019}} Sala's body was taken back to Argentina on 15 February 2019 and his funeral was held, in his hometown of Progreso, the following day.{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/emiliano-sala-body-funeral-santa-fe-tributes-cardiff-nantes-missing-plane-crash-a8782511.html |title=Emiliano Sala: Grieving Argentines pay tribute in footballer's home town of Santa Fé |work=The Independent |date=16 February 2019 |access-date=21 February 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/16/football/emiliano-sala-funeral-hometown-progreso-spt-intl/index.html |title=Emiliano Sala's funeral held in Argentina |publisher=CNN |date=16 February 2019 |access-date=17 February 2019}} On 25 February, a Special Bulletin was issued by the AAIB, giving a radar track of final section of flight including photographs of the wreckage on the sea-bed. It examined, in some detail, the regulatory framework for the accident flight.{{cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c73c02bed915d4a3d3b2407/S1-2019_N264DB_Final.pdf |title=AAIB Bulletin S1/2019 SPECIAL |publisher=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk |date=25 February 2019|access-date=25 February 2019}}

On 28 February, ex-football agent Willie McKay, who had arranged the flight, said that Sala had been "abandoned" by Cardiff City and was left to arrange his own travel. McKay's son Mark was Nantes' acting agent in the deal for Sala. The football club said they "strongly reject" the claim they neglected to provide Sala with travel arrangements.{{cite web|last=Roan |first=Dan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47406109 |title=Emiliano Sala plane crash: Footballer was 'let down' by Cardiff, says Willie McKay - BBC Sport |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=28 February 2019 |access-date=14 August 2019}} On 29 April, two people were arrested after a photograph purporting to show the dead body of Emiliano Sala during a post-mortem was posted on Twitter.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48099141|title=Emiliano Sala: Arrests after 'body photo' posted on Twitter|work=BBC News |date=29 April 2019|access-date=30 April 2019}}

On 19 June 2019, Dorset Police announced that they had arrested a man on suspicion of manslaughter by an unlawful act in respect of the death of Sala. His identity was not made public, but several newspapers identified the man as pilot David Henderson, who arranged the flight and had originally intended to fly the plane.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-48694561 |title=Emiliano Sala: Manslaughter arrest over footballer's death |work=BBC News |date=19 June 2019 |access-date=19 June 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/19/emiliano-sala-man-arrested-over-death-of-footballer|title=Emiliano Sala: York man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter|first1=Steven|last1=Morris|first2=Nazia|last2=Parveen|date=20 June 2019|work=The Guardian}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/pilot-arrested-over-channel-plane-crash-death-of-footballer-bcpf5bjjv|title=Pilot arrested over Channel plane crash death of Emiliano Sala|first=David|last=Brown|date=20 June 2019|work=The Times}} On 11 March 2020, it was reported that no further action would be taken against the man.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51831150 |title=Emiliano Sala: No further action after manslaughter arrest |work=BBC News Online |date=11 March 2020|access-date=13 March 2020}} However, in October 2021, Henderson was prosecuted and found guilty of arranging a flight without permission or authorisation and of endangering the safety of an aircraft.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58951342|title=Emiliano Sala: David Henderson pleads guilty to flight charge|date=19 October 2021|website=BBC News|access-date=21 October 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-59062626|title=Emiliano Sala: Flight organiser convicted over plane deaths|date=28 October 2021|website=BBC News|access-date=28 October 2021}} On 14 August, it was reported that toxicology tests on Sala's body showed high levels of exposure to carbon monoxide, and the AAIB considered it was likely that the pilot would also have been exposed to the gas, potentially leading to drowsiness or unconsciousness.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-49345186|title= Emiliano Sala 'exposed to carbon monoxide in plane crash' |work=BBC News|date=14 August 2019|access-date=14 August 2019}}

In September 2022, the BBC released recordings of the pilot, David Ibbotson, who also died in the crash, saying "I'll be wearing my life jacket" on the journey from France to Wales. He had also stated to friends that the 35-year-old airplane was "dodgy". The recordings further revealed that Ibbotson said about a previous flight in the same aircraft:{{Cite news |date=21 September 2022 |title=Emiliano Sala: Pilot told friend doomed plane was 'dodgy' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-62594529 |access-date=22 September 2022}}

{{Blockquote

|text=I'm flying along and then "boom". I thought, "what's wrong?" So I put everything forward and checked my parameters, everything was good and it was still flying, but it got your attention ... That Malibu, occasionally you've got like a mist every so often. You can feel it, very, very low throughout the airframe.

}}In 2021, a competition called the Challenge Emiliano Sala was created in honour of Sala. It was contested between four of Sala's former clubs in France, with Bordeaux winning the first title.{{Cite web |title=Emiliano Sala |url=https://challenge-emilianosala.fr/emiliano-sala/ |access-date=18 September 2021 |publisher=Challenge Emiliano Sala}}{{Cite web |date=18 July 2021 |title=Amical : Bordeaux remporte le Challenge Emiliano-Sala après sa victoire contre Caen (L2) |trans-title=Friendly: Bordeaux wins the Challenge Emiliano-Sala after the victory against Caen (L2) |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Amical-bordeaux-remporte-le-challenge-emiliano-sala-apres-sa-victoire-contre-caen-l2/1271298 |access-date=18 July 2021 |website=L'Équipe |language=fr}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Coupe de France !colspan="2"\|Coupe de la Ligue !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{cite web\|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/emiliano-sala/187099/\|title=E. Sala\|website=Soccerway\|access-date=4 January 2019}}
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Crato \|2009–10 \|Portalegre First Division \|1	2	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	1	2
Orléans (loan) \|2012–13 \|Championnat National \|37	19	0	0	0	0	37	19
Niort (loan) \|2013–14 \|Ligue 2 \|37	18	2	2	1	0	40	20
Bordeaux \|2014–15 \|Ligue 1 \|11	1	1	0	0	0	12	1
Caen (loan) \|2014–15 \|Ligue 1 \|13	5	0	0	0	0	13	5
rowspan="5"\|Nantes \|2015–16 \|rowspan="4"\|Ligue 1 \|31	6	3	0	1	0	35	6
2016–17 \|34	12	2	0	3	3	39	15
2017–18 \|36	12	2	2	0	0	38	14
2018–19 \|19	12	0	0	2	1	21	13
colspan="2"\|Total !120	42	7	2	6	4	133	48
colspan="3"\|Career total !219	87	10	4	7	4	236	95

Honours

Individual

UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: February 2015, October 2018
Nantes Team of the Decade: 2010–2019{{cite web|url=https://showsport.me/football/fc-nantes-ligue-1-fans-29839522|title=Nantes fans included Sala in the team of the decade. 99% voted for it|website=ShowSport|date=23 June 2020|access-date=23 June 2020}}