Romulo: 'I knew most of Chapecoense'

Verona player Romulo played for Chapecoense and has several former teammates in the squad whose plane crashed last night.

The team was on its way to the Copa Sudamericana Final with Atletico Nacional in Medellin, joined by staff and 21 journalists.

There are only five survivors, including defender Alan Ruschel and reserve goalkeeper Jackson Follman.

Goalkeeper Marcos Padilha, known as Danilo, died in hospital.

Several players were not called up for the game and therefore weren’t on the plane, including Nenem, Nivaldo and former Verona man Claudio Winck.

“My agent spoke to Winck’s father and he said Claudio is ok, but very sad and shaken for his teammates and the families of the victims,” wrote Verona winger Romulo on social media.

“I know Nenem, Nivaldo and Winck well and they were only saved because they weren’t called up. I played for Chapecoense in 2009, so I knew many of those who were on board that plane, not just players, but also directors and journalists.

“It’s an extraordinary tragedy. I remember very well when I played there and with many of those lads we won the final of the Catarinense championship.

“I haven’t heard from anyone at the club, partly because 99 per cent of them were on board that flight. I pray for the families of the victims.

“Chapecoense play in the Brazilian Serie A and remind me of Verona. Even if smaller in terms of history and prestige, they are well-organised and have fantastic fans, who are always very close.

“They entered Brazilian football history because they just earned their place in a very important final, despite not being among the most important Brazilian club.

“I was really very happy there. Today is a sad day.”

There are also reports that former Fiorentina striker Edmundo was meant to be on the flight in order to commentate on the game for Fox Brasil, but due to personal reasons he switched with Mario Sergio and worked on the Palmeiras match instead.