On Tuesday, the Turkish clubs vice president Mustafa Ozat said that the 31-year-old former Newcastle United player had been rescued from the rubble with injuries.
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Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu remains missing after two devastating earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria, Hatayspor manager Volkan Demirel told Reuters on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Turkish clubs vice president Mustafa Ozat as well as Ghana’s football association said that the 31-year-old former Newcastle United player had been rescued from the rubble with injuries and transported to Hospital after Monday’s disastrous quakes. The 7.8 magnitude quake destroyed thousands of buildings, killing more than 4,800 people in Turkey and neighbouring Syria.
Former Blues player Christian Atsu is still missing according to his agent Nana Sechere.
Contrary to previous reports, Hatayspor manager Volkan Demirel said “no news yet” on either Atsu or sporting director Taner Savut, who were both reported missing on Monday.
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“There is no information on his whereabouts yet, we don’t know where he is,” Demirel said. “It’s not the case that he was pulled out or taken anywhere else. The search for Atsu is ongoing, Demirel added. Atsu joined Hatayspor in September 2022 and last played for Ghana in 2019. He had played just 46 minutes of football for Hatayspor since joining the club from Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Raed almost six months ago. The winger scored a 97th-minute winner for the Star of the South as they beat Kasimpasa 1-0 in the league on Sunday, but just hours later he was reported missing following the earthquake.
The Ghanaian started his European journey with Portuguese club FC Porto in 2009, before moving to Premier League outfit Chelsea in 2013. However, the winger struggled to settle in at Stamford Bridge and was sent on loan to five different clubs. And eventually Atsu joined Newcastle United in 2017 following a one-year loan spell at St. James’ Park. He helped the Magpies earn promotion from the EFL championship in the 2016-17 campaign.
Atsu played 107 games for Newcastle, while scoring 12 goals. And then, in 2021, the attacker was sold to Saudi Pro League side Al-Raed for a free transfer. Meanwhile, when it comes to the international circuit, Atsu made his debut for the Black Stars in 2012 at the age of just 20, and then went on to achieve 60 international caps, while scoring 10 goals.
The Club Doctor of Hatayspor says, at the moment, the Turkish club are concluding that Christian Atsu is not the one who was found on Monday night.
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— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) February 8, 2023
