Missing Emiliano Sala’s former manager collapsed after hearing the Cardiff striker’s plane had disappeared.
Olivier Frapolli was managing Orleans in France’s third division when Sala joined on loan from Bordeaux in 2012 and has been left devastated by the 28-year-old’s plight.
Sala, who joined Cardiff for £15million from Nantes last week, booked his own private flight to Wales and was one of two people on board when it went missing over the Channel Islands on Monday night.
Frapolli is now managing French minnows Boulogne and told talkSPORT: “I learned the sad news on Tuesday before training with my team and I collapsed because Emi was a good boy who was so engaging.
“I’m so sad and I pray for Emi and his family.”
No traces of the plane have yet been found despite an extensive search effort, involving numerous lifeboats and aircraft.
Chief officer of Channel Islands Air Search, John Fitzgerald, says there is “no hope” of finding Sala or the pilot alive.
Sala thrived under Frapolli at Orleans, scoring 19 goals in 37 games as the club finished eighth in the Championnat National.
Frapolli recalls that the Argentine was a fans’ favourite and always had a smile on his face.
He added: “I saw Emi for the first time when he was playing for the second team of Bordeaux.
“I loved his game because he was a striker who was combative and generous on the pitch.
“Emi didn’t speak French very well, he was a shy character but always had a smile on his face.
“At the end of our season, he was the fans’ most popular player.”
Sala earned his dream move to the Premier League with Cardiff after scoring 13 goals in 21 appearances for Nantes earlier this season.
Today, he would have been training with his new team-mates in preparation for his debut against Arsenal.
Frapolli added: “I’m sure the Cardiff fans would’ve appreciated him because he was a combative player.
“Emi was a good player, a good striker with a top mentality.”