FOOTBALLER Emiliano Sala's body has arrived in Argentina ahead of this weekend's funeral in his home town.

The 28-year-old striker died last month just two days after completing a Cardiff club-record £15million move from Nantes.

The single-engine aircraft carrying Sala and pilot David Ibbotson crash-landed in the English Channel on January 21.

The plane had requested to descend then lost contact with Jersey air traffic control.

After an official search was axed, a £324,000 private one found the plane on February 3. Sala's body was recovered three days later.

Mr Ibbotson remains missing.

PUBLIC VIGIL
Sala's body is being driven from Buenos Aires airport to Progreso, around 334 miles northwest of the Argentine capital, for a vigil and wake tomorrow.

A public vigil, expected to last for several hours, will be held in the gymnasium of Sala's boyhood club San Martin de Progreso, where he played until he was 15.

The club posted an emotional tribute on Facebook earlier this week, saying: "We are waiting for you...like the first day you left but this time to stay with us forever.

"You went and you are an example for everyone. Eternally in our hearts."

Cardiff manager Neil Warnock and chief executive Ken Choo will both attend the funeral.

Nantes, for whom Sala scored 42 goals in 120 league appearances, will be represented by the defender Nicolas Pallois and general secretary Loic Morin.

SALA KILLED BY HEAD AND UPPER BODY INJURIES
An inquest on Monday heard Sala was killed by head and upper body injuries.

They were caused by the impact of his light aircraft plunging into the Channel.

The striker, 28, was identified by fingerprints.

The Bournemouth inquest was adjourned.

Once probes by crash experts and aviation chiefs end, a November 6 review will pave the way for the case to resume.

Meanwhile, the family of Mr Ibbotson have spoken of their determination to find and recover the body of the man they described as “our rock”.

The dad-of-three Mr Ibbotson, from Scunthorpe, told pals he was feeling "a bit rusty" just days before the doomed aircraft vanished.

His wife Nora said: "We just know we can’t leave him out there on his own until we have tried to do everything we can".

Half of a £300,000 target has been raised for a private search.