By Adam Crafton for the Daily Mail
Published: 22:33 GMT, 22 January 2019 | Updated: 22:56 GMT, 22 January 2019
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To grasp the strength of affection felt by Nantes for Emiliano Sala, we need only return to the events of last week.
When a leading goalscorer leaves in the January transfer window, it is usually with his hood up and via the back door amid the loud stomping of feet. Yet Sala was different.
His French team-mates had only respect and admiration for his achievements and before his £15million move to Cardiff was finalised, Nantes prepared a special showreel of Sala's goals and best moments to celebrate his transfer. On Monday, he was back in the north west of France, saying farewell to his team-mates.
Emiliano Sala was about to embark on the biggest step of his career after signing for Cardiff
The Argentine was not known only for his prowess on the field, he was also a keen guitarist
Sala was cherished not only for his 12 goals in 16 starts this season but also for his work-rate on the field and character in the dressing room. Adept with the guitar and an avid reader, Sala possessed a cultural hinterland that set him apart. He would often bring a book to the training ground for his down-time.
'Reading is what I love,' Sala said last year. 'I'm into crime and drama fiction. I love to be transported into that world.'
After a childhood in Argentina, where he would study videos of the legendary Gabriel Batistuta, Sala took a huge gamble when he left his homeland aged 14 to join the Bordeaux academy.
Sala was one of Ligue 1's top scorers this season, just five behind top striker Kylian Mbappe (R)
From there, he had loan spells in the top three flights of French football. He was
