Prince Harry's Polo Rival: How I Introduced Liam Payne to the Sport
One of Liam Payne's close friends, Gonzalo Avendano, has shared insights about how he introduced Liam to polo in the months leading up to his untimely death. Gonzalo, a wealthy investor with his own polo team, believed that playing polo would provide Liam with a sense of purpose and a new passion in life.
At 56, Gonzalo has played against Prince Harry in various polo matches and understands the therapeutic qualities of the sport. He encouraged Liam to engage with horses, asserting that being around them is healing. Gonzalo provided Liam with a place to stay for free at his Patagones polo clubs located in Florida and Argentina, emphasizing that polo can help individuals find a fresh start.
'I encouraged Liam to take up polo because it would give him something to do – a new passion and purpose in life,' Gonzalo explained. 'He loved the challenge of learning a new sport and looked forward to his daily rides as a form of therapy.'
Last Moments
The One Direction star shared one of his final selfies while at Gonzalo's Argentina farm, captioned 'Lovely day in Argentina.' Just an hour before his tragic fall at a hotel balcony, Liam posted a video about enjoying his time with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, and expressed excitement about playing polo again.
Despite feeling sore from polo practice, he joked about his late breakfast, indicating he was in good spirits. Gonzalo indicated that Liam called him only three hours before his death, sounding happy and sharing his new phone number. He never mentioned any intention of harming himself and had been actively planning for the future, including buying recording equipment and composing new songs. They often talked about business ventures, including building a recording studio together.
The Friendship
The two met early in the year through Roger Nores, who was the last known person to see Liam alive. Gonzalo described how Liam became like family to him, living at his home in Florida for several months until he rented his own place nearby.
'Liam was a lonely soul,' Gonzalo reflected. 'He told me he never got a break in ten years with One Direction, and emotionally he seemed to stop growing at that age.' He enjoyed creating music and art but struggled with solitude.
Gonzalo treasures four hand-drawn sketches from Liam, noting he never witnessed signs of hard drug use while Liam stayed with him. He recalls leisurely evenings spent with his family, emphasizing that Liam preferred quieter moments with friends over partying.
Tragic Incident
The day of Liam's passing, reports revealed he had experienced distress before falling from the 45-foot hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Witnesses mentioned a possible 'psychotic episode,' and police later discovered drugs in his hotel room, hinting at a troubling turn in Liam's life.
While speculation abounds regarding the events leading to his demise, Gonzalo firmly stated that his absence during that critical time haunts him. 'I will never forgive myself for not being there. I feel like I failed him,' he lamented.
Liam, Polo, Friendship, Tragedy