A series of leaked WhatsApp messages show that Cardiff City offered Emiliano Sala a commercial flight to travel from Nantes to Wales.

The messages, procured by French outlet Ouest-France, have been leaked after ex-football agent Willie McKay claimed Sala was “abandoned” by Cardiff before his tragic passing.

McKay told the BBC on Thursday night that the Premier League club left Sala to make his own travel arrangements. McKay arranged the Piper Malibu flight that crashed in the English Channel last month, killing Sala and pilot David Ibbotson.

However, the leak appears to show that Sala was offered a commercial flight by a Cardiff Player Liaison Officer.

The striker declined the offer as McKay had already sorted his flight.

McKay told the BBC: “He was abandoned in a hotel more or less to do his travel arrangements himself. Nobody in Cardiff seemed to be doing anything. It was a bit embarrassing for Cardiff.

“They buy a player for £15m and then leave him in a hotel by himself to go on the computer and look for a flight - I think Cardiff let themselves down badly. The way they've acted so far, they've been a disgrace.”

WhatsApp messages

Screenshots of the conversation can be seen below. The following translation is provided by the Daily Mail:

Player Liaison Officer: [thumbs up emoji]

Emiliano Sala: Thank you very much

PLO: It's nothing friend

I write Spanish better than I speak it

ES: Ha ha very good

PLO: My girlfriend speaks Spanish. She is a teacher

[shares commercial flight details]

PLO: It is an option perhaps. Cardiff-Paris.

But it's early.

ES: Friend.

It's good.

I have a flight going tomorrow to Nantes and return Monday night to Cardiff.

Willie McKay called me.

PLO: Ok mate. Have you agreed a price with him?

ES: Yes it's good. We will speak tomorrow before leaving for Nantes.

PLO: Ok that works.

What time do you fly?

Cardiff have denied suggestions that they neglected to organise Sala’s travel plans.