Managing agent reports death of former Vitessen player Atsu in Turkey earthquake
NOS Soccer–
Christian Atsu’s lifeless body has been found in Turkey. Reuters news agency reports. Murat Uzunmehmet, the Ghanaian international’s business manager who played for Vitesse in the past, first reported the death this morning.
Atsu, who turned 31, had been playing in the Turkish Süper Lig with Hatayspor since last September. A club from Hatay province, not far from the epicenter of the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6.
Immediately after the earthquake, Atsu went missing and much confusion ensued. Turkish media reported after one day that he had been rescued alive from the rubble, but it later turned out to be a mistaken identity. Hatayspor’s club doctor determined at the hospital that it was a different person from Atsu.
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Rescue workers and friends and family of Atsu Friday at the collapsed building where the soccer player was staying
Atsu played 65 international matches for Ghana, in which the winger scored nine goals. He was active with Ghana at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Vitesse
At a young age, Atsu was considered a great talent, playing at FC Porto and Chelsea. That English club loaned him to Vitesse in the 2013/14 season. In Arnhem, he scored five goals in 28 games.
Atsu later played for the likes of Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga, Newcastle United and Al-Raed in Saudi Arabia before ending up in Turkey this season.
After the earthquake, Hatayspor withdrew from the league. The club’s last goal this season was scored on Feb. 5 by Atsu, who scored the winning 1-0 against Kasimpasa in the seventh minute of injury time.
