Cardiff City fans have unveiled a banner in an emotional tribute to Emiliano Sala.

The Argentine striker had joined Cardiff City in a £15million deal on Saturday and was due to arrive in the Welsh capital on Monday after travelling back to France to say his goodbyes to his team-mates in Nantes.

But his flight to Wales disappeared near the Channel Islands and, despite days of searching, has not yet been discovered.

The active search for Sala and pilot David Ibbotson has now been called off , with Guernsey harbour master captain David Barker saying: “The chances of survival at this stage are extremely remote."

Bluebirds fans have been leaving tributes at the foot of the Fred Keenor statue outside the Cardiff City stadium since news of Sala's disappearance broke.

And they have now unfurled an banner that read: "We never saw you play and never saw you score, but Emiliano our beautiful Bluebird we will love you forever more."

(Image: Getty Images)

It comes after the Premier League have confirmed that a "moment of silent reflection" will be held before games next week.

(Image: Getty Images)

Tributes have also been pouring in at Nantes, the city where Sala had made his name as a footballer and had revisited to say "farewell" before the flight.

(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Sister of Emiliano Sala speaks

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Nantes players were in tears as they trained on Thursday with former teammate Emiliano Sala feared dead.

The club had been due to play in the French Cup this week but the match was postponed amid the developments surrounding Sala.

But Vahid Halilhodzic’s side did train on Thursday on a hugely-emotional day for the Ligue 1 club.

Nantes fans surrounded the training ground for the session as Halilhodzic and his players made an address.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images) (Image: AFP/Getty Images) (Image: AP)

After confirmation the search had been called off, Sala's sister Romina - who is in Cardiff - pleaded for the search to continue.

She said: "I know in my heart Emiliano is still alive somewhere in the Channel Islands.

"At the moment, the only thing we want is the whereabouts of the two people. Questions of how Emiliano came about his fate are the matter of another moment.

(Image: Sky News)

"The idea is to go to the search place to try to push forward this search, not to stop. The only thing I want is to see my brother, to find my brother.

"My message is do not stop the search. I am grateful for everything that has been done, but I beg that they don't stop with the search, please." You can read the full story here .

Cardiff City have also issued a statement today, where owner Vincent Tan said the club had been shaken to its core by the events of this week.