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Cape Town - Nantes fans, players and head coach Vahid Halilhodzic have paid tribute to Emiliano Sala during an emotional training session on Thursday.
It is the first time the French Ligue 1 club have trained since Sala disappeared from radar onboard an light aircraft over the English Channel.
Halilhodzic admitted the disappearance of Sala had left him "completely shocked" while fans said they felt as if they had lost "someone from our own family".
Sala had been on his way from the French club to Wales on Monday night where he was due to start a new period in his career with Premier League Cardiff City.
Police said on Thursday that the chances of finding the 28-year-old Argentine alive were "extremely remote" as they announced they were ending their search.
"I had a particular relationship with him because from the moment of my arrival we talked a lot. I spoke with him....." said veteran coach Halilhodzic who started to weep before composing himself enough to continue.
His voice still trembled as he added: "For me, it is perhaps the most difficult moment of my sporting life. I have known others but in terms of sport, this has left me completely shocked."
Sala had been at Nantes since 2015 and had scored 12 league goals this season before signing a three-and-a-half-year deal with relegation-threatened Cardiff.
