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A Spanish footballer has been found dead in Spain several days after he was reported missing after his body was discovered on a train track. An appeal was launched to find Alvaro Prieto, 18,

who had vanished shortly after being kicked off a train by security staff, but on Monday, his club Cordoba FC confirmed in a statement that the youngster had passed away.

Spanish police believe that Prieto, an engineering student who played for Cordoba's youth team, had spent Wednesday night in Seville at a friend's home.

At 7.20am, he was due to take a train in Santa Justa to Cordoba, where he was expected to return for duty with his club. However, he missed the train and tried to get on another service to

Barcelona, but was forced off the train by security services and left.

In a heartbreaking development, the player's father said his phone had ran out of battery and Prieto did not have any cash on him to buy another ticket. At around 9am, the trail of Prieto

went cold and he was reported missing.

Antonio Fernández Monterrubio, CEO del #CórdobaCF: "Nuestro más sincero pésame a la familia, amigos y compañeros del equipo de Álvaro Prieto. Tienen nuestro apoyo incondicional. Y agradecer

a todos por acompañarnos en estos difíciles momentos" pic.twitter.com/WsaFpOZFyl

Local emergency services continued to search for him without any success for three days before they made the discovery on Monday morning. Prieto's body was found between two Renfe train

carriages.

Prieto's club, third-tier outfit Cordoba who played in La Liga as recently as 2014-15, confirmed his death with an emotional statement. It read: "From Cordoba CF we regret to report that our

youth player Álvaro Prieto has finally been found dead."

Cordoba's CEO Antonio Fernandez Monterrubio, speaking in a video uploaded to their official account on X, formerly Twitter, said: "Our most sincere condolences to the family, friends and

teammates of Alvaro Prieto. They have our unconditional support. And we thank everyone for joining us in these difficult times."

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La Liga clubs Barcelona, Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao all sent messages of condolence to Cordoba and the player's family after learning of the news. Cordoba later announced that a training

session scheduled for their youth team players would be cancelled on Monday after learning of Prieto's death.

Train operator Renfe released a statement on Monday clarifying the situation after a TV reporter appeared to spot the youngster's clothing during a live broadcast. The company clarified that

Prieto's body was found between two carriages that had not been moved since August, nor had there been any inspections carried out.

It read: "Renfe expresses its condolences to Alvaro's family. The train where it appeared was not in service due to a breakdown, since August it has not been moved nor has it been inspected.

Today it was carrying out a manoeuvre without passengers. Renfe is collaborating in the investigation with the police."

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