Christian Atsu, a Ghana national player and former Newcastle midfielder, was discovered alive in the rubble of an earthquake that killed over 4,800 people in Turkey and neighboring Syria, Ghana’s envoy to Turkey announced today.
In September, he signed for the Turkish Super League club Hatayspor. He has played for Newcastle United, Everton, and Porto. Newcastle United is eager to learn more about their former player. The Premier League club also took to Twitter.
“I have good news coming. I am just getting information from the president of the Ghana association that Christian Atsu has been found in Hatay,” Francisca Ashietey-Odunton told Accra-based Asaase Radio, referring to a local Ghanaian community association.
The envoy provided no other information on his condition.
Mustafa Ozat, a Hatayspor administrator, informed the Play Spor streaming channel on Monday that Christian Atsu was still trapped in the wreckage and was attempting to flee.
Christian Atsu stayed in Newcastle for five seasons after starting off on loan, until departing for Saudi Arabia in 2021.
In September 2019, he won his 60th Ghana national cap. But everyone is worried about Atsuke. Newcastle had him for five seasons. He was on loan from Chelsea to Newcastle.
“We pray for Ghana International Christian Atsu and victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria,” the Ghana Football Association said on Twitter.
Dozens of countries have provided assistance since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck early Monday while residents were asleep. The cold weather has impeded rescue efforts.
In Turkey, about 5,600 structures were left to rubble, including multi-story apartment buildings full of occupants, while Syria reported scores of collapses.