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Tributes have been paid to footballer Emiliano Sala after his body was recovered from the English Channel and formally identified.<\/p>\nTributes have been paid to footballer Emiliano Sala after his body was recovered from the English Channel and formally identified.<\/p>\n
Fellow footballing stars reacted to confirmation of his death, which came almost three weeks after his plane crashed en route from Nantes, France, to Cardiff.<\/p>\n
Cardiff City Football Club, to which Sala had recently signed for a club record \u00a315 million, said in a statement: \u201cWe offer our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of Emiliano.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe and David will forever remain in our thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manchester City\u2019s Sergio Aguero\u200f, a fellow Argentinian, tweeted: \u201cRest in peace, Emiliano. My condolences to his friends and family #PrayForSala\u201d.<\/p>\n
Argentina\u2019s president Mauricio Macri \u2013 who had joined calls for the search for the plane to be resumed after it was called off \u2013 also posted on Twitter, sending his condolences to Sala\u2019s family, adding: \u201cWe are with you\u201d.<\/p>\n
The light aircraft was piloted by David Ibbotson, who has not been found.<\/p>\n
Arsenal player Mesut Ozil\u200f wrote: \u201cNo words to describe how sad this is. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and also to the family of the pilot. #RIPsala\u201d.<\/p>\n
Manchester City\u2019s Benjamin Mendy tweeted an image of Sala, while Paris Saint-Germain footballer Kylian Mbappe wrote simply: \u201cRIP EMI\u201d.<\/p>\n
Everton player Oumar Niasse, who is currently on loan to Cardiff City, tweeted: \u201cRIP @EmilianoSala1 Forever in our thoughts\u201d.<\/p>\n