Sala: Nantes retired No 9 shirt confirmed Ligue 1 club president Waldemar Kita

Sala's body was recovered from the English Channel and formally identified on Thursday evening, almost three weeks after his plane crashed en route to Cardiff - whom he joined for a club-record €17 million.

The Ligue 1 side turned their official website to just a photo of Sala, with the words 'Nous ne t'oublierons jamais, Emi!' which translates as "We will never forget you, Emi!"

In a statement, President said: "I do not have the words, it's a tragedy, I'm devastated, Emiliano left his mark, which is why, like many fans, I want to honour him again by removing the number 9 ". FIFA also released a statement on Sala.

Sala scored 73 goals and registered 19 assists in 200 appearances throughout his club career and was considered as a late bloomer entering the peak of his ability at the age of 28.