An earlier report that said Christian Atsu had been found under the rubble was as a case of mistaken identity.
Now, we hear that the former Newcastle winger is still missing after an earthquake in Turkey.
Volkan Demirel, director at Christian Atsu’s club Hatayspor told Reuters on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 that the player had still not been located after it had been announced he’d been pulled from the rubble and taken to hospital, following the huge earthquakes which have devastated parts of Turkey and neighbouring Syria.
“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. Christian Atsu joined Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor in September 2022 after spending nearly a decade at Chelsea and Newcastle United.
More Than 10,000 Killed
Christian Atsu was reported missing after team-mates and members of the club’s technical staff had reportedly been pulled from the rubble.
More than 10,000 people have been killed after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria during the early hours of Monday morning, followed by a second of 7.5.
The agent for Christian Atsu, the former Premier League soccer player who was reportedly pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building after an earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, said on Wednesday that he could not locate his client.
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Atsu was part of the Newcastle team which won promotion back to the Premier League in 2017 after joining on loan for the season from Chelsea, and later completed a permanent move. He also had brief spells at Everton and Bournemouth on a temporary basis.
Turkish goalkeeper Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan died following Monday’s earthquake in the country.
“Our goalkeeper, Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan, lost his life after being under the collapse of the earthquake. Rest in peace,” they wrote. “We will not forget you, beautiful person.” – Yeni Malatyaspor
