17 October 2023 , 07:40
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A young Spanish footballer has been found dead after his body was discovered between two train carriages several days after going missing.
Alvaro Prieto, 18, was kicked off a train by security staff last Thursday and it has now been confirmed by his club, Cordoba, that he has passed away. Prieto was an engineering student who played for Cordoba's youth team and police believe that he had spent Wednesday night in Seville at a friend's home.
At 7.20am on Thursday, the teenager was due to take a train from Santa Justa station back to Cordoba, where he was to resume training with the Spanish third-tier side. Prieto, however, missed the train and attempted to get on another service to Barcelona.
The player was then forced off by security services for not having a ticket. His father says that his phone had run out of battery and Prieto did not have any money on him to buy another ticket.
At around 9am, he went off the radar and was subsequently reported missing. Emergency services spent three days searching for him but to no avail. On Monday morning, his body was found between two Renfe train carriages after a television reporter spotted his body during a live broadcast, prompting tributes from across Spanish football.
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Cordoba, who played in La Liga as recently as the 2014-15 season, confirmed his death with an emotional statement. It read: "From Cordoba CF we regret to report that our youth player Alvaro Prieto has finally been found dead."
Chief executive Antonio Fernandez Monterrubio said in a video posted on the club's social media channels: "Our most sincere condolences to the family, friends and teammates of Alvaro Prieto. They have our unconditional support. And we thank everyone for joining us in these difficult times."
Some of La Liga's biggest clubs, including Barcelona, Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao sent messages of condolence to Cordoba and Prieto's family. The club, who changed the colour scheme of their social media profiles to black and white as a mark of remembrance, also announced that a training session scheduled for their youth team players on Monday was cancelled.
Train operator Renfe have released a statement clarifying the situation, saying that the train in question had not been in service since August. "Renfe expresses its condolences to Alvaro's family," they began.
"The train where it appeared was not in service due to a breakdown, since August it has not been moved nor has it been inspected. Today it was carrying out a manoeuvre without passengers. Renfe is collaborating in the investigation with the police."