Liverpool winger Luis Díaz’s father, Luis Manuel Díaz, has been hospitalized in Colombia with chest pains, just 13 months after surviving a harrowing 12-day kidnap ordeal.
The 58-year-old was initially admitted to Our Lady of Pilar Hospital in his hometown of Barrancas on Boxing Day. Doctors stabilized him and provided oxygen before transferring him to the Cesar Cardiovascular Institute in Valledupar for further tests, a 90-minute drive away.
Local media outlet El Pilon reported that Luis Manuel, affectionately known as “Mane,” is scheduled to undergo cardiac catheterization, a routine procedure to assess heart health. Despite initial concerns about a heart attack, family members have dismissed the claims, with doctors now exploring the possibility of a muscle strain as the cause of his chest pain.
Luis Manuel expressed gratitude for his improving condition, stating, “Thanks to God, everything is fine. It’s nothing serious, just pain unrelated to heart problems. There’s no need for concern.”
The hospital where he is being treated confirmed in a statement that he is under “comprehensive specialized medical care” and remains under close observation to ensure a swift recovery.
Luis Díaz, an unused substitute in Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Leicester on Boxing Day, has not commented publicly on his father’s health scare. The ordeal comes after the emotional reunion last year between the footballer and his father following the elder Díaz’s kidnapping.
Luis Manuel was abducted on October 28, 2023, and held for 12 days before being freed near the Venezuelan border in a handover involving a Colombian priest. The ELN, a group labeled as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and EU, claimed responsibility for the abduction.
Despite the crisis, Luis Díaz continued to perform on the pitch, scoring for Liverpool against Luton Town during his father’s captivity and later netting twice for Colombia in a historic victory over Brazil in his father’s presence.
Luis Manuel is expected to be discharged before the New Year, allowing him to celebrate with his family. Meanwhile, investigations continue into the kidnapping case, with one of the accused already sentenced and others awaiting trial.