Liverpool star Luis Diaz’s father wants to renew his wedding vows after losing his wedding band during his 13-day kidnap ordeal.
The Roman Catholic bishop who helped rescue Luis Manuel Diaz revealed he was asked to conduct the wholesome ceremony.
Monsignor Francisco Ceballos was among the first people to see Diaz’s dad after he was released by the Colombian guerrilla insurgency group, the ELN, (National Liberation Army) on Thursday.
Diaz Sr. spent 13 days in captivity having been abducted alongside his wife by four armed men in his homeland on October 28.
Diaz’s mother Cilenis Marulanda was released shortly afterwards but her 58-year-old husband remained a prisoner for almost two weeks.
He is now resting after being reunited with his family but respected Colombian media outlet Semana claimed his valuables, including his wedding ring, were stolen by the kidnappers before he was returned.
Bishop Ceballos, the first person who saw Manuel Diaz alive after going to his rescue, has revealed the adorable pledge he made following his release.
As reported by the Mirror, he said: “He told me I had to marry him again because he had lost his ring. He said he wanted to renew his wedding vows.”
The Bishop, who said the father-of-four had only formalised his relationship with Luis Diaz’s mum last year, added: “We will definitely do it whenever they want.”
Speaking about meeting Manuel Diaz after he was freed, Ceballos told a Colombian TV station: “It’s a very emotional moment when you see a person who has been deprived of his liberty in front of you.
“I met him practically on the path he was coming along. I was the first person who saw him. I hugged him and he began to cry. He was very emotional and very tired because of the long walks he had to do.
“He told me he had to walk continuously for two days plus another four days when he was kidnapped. Of the 13 days he was kidnapped he was walking for six days, day and night.”
Diaz meanwhile is expected to make his first Premier League start since his father was abducted against Brentford on Sunday.
The Colombia international memorably came off the bench to score a stoppage-time equaliser during Liverpool’s draw at Luton last week.
After the goal, Diaz displayed a message on his vest underneath his shirt which read ‘Freedom for Dad.’
