Nantes president Waldemar Kita has paid tribute to Emiliano Sala after the plane carrying him went missing on Monday night.

He had returned to France to say his goodbyes ahead of the club-record £15million switch to the Cardiff City Stadium.

Kita described Sala as "respectful and courteous" - and says he still harbours hopes of the forward being found.

"I think that he came back because he wanted to say goodbye to his friends," he told CNEWS. "He was a polite, kind and adorable boy, loved by everyone.

"He was very respectful, very courteous. I am thinking about his family and all his friends. For the rest, we don't know yet.

"I am still hoping that it is not finished, that he is somewhere, that he will be there.

"I have just found about this like you have, like the journalists. I was not even aware that he was at Nantes. He is no longer owned by Nantes, he does what he wants.

"And I say that because I am still hopeful that we will find him."