Former Cardiff City and Manchester United defender Fabio Da Silva has spoken of the profound impact the deaths of Emiliano Sala and Peter Whittingham have had on him. The Brazilian, now playing for Nantes, described his devastation at losing two men so closely linked to the Bluebirds.
Fabio revealed he had spoken to Sala on the afternoon before his fatal flight across the Channel in January 2019. The Argentine had sought his advice about joining Cardiff, and Fabio had promised to help him settle. 'In the morning, when I heard the news, it was shocking,' Fabio said. 'He was such a professional and I was happy for him, because I knew Cardiff fans would have loved him.'
The defender admitted the first two months after Sala's death were particularly hard. 'Life is so short, man, you need to give every moment in your life everything,' he said. The tragedy taught him to cherish every moment, and he now smiles more than ever.
Fabio also spoke of his shock at Whittingham's passing in March 2020. He immediately texted former teammate Matthew Connolly, who initially said Whittingham was still in hospital before later confirming his death. 'I was devastated. I couldn't believe it,' Fabio recalled.
Reflecting on his own career, Fabio revealed he turned down a new contract at Manchester United under David Moyes in 2013 because he wanted to play regularly. 'I said, 'No, no, no. I never play. I know you like me but I want to be happy. I want to play football,'' he said. That decision led him to Cardiff City, where he spent two and a half seasons.
