There’s been an outpouring of grief following the confirmation of Christian Atsu’s death.
John Terry led tributes to the former Chelsea and Newcastle United winger Atsu, who was confirmed to have died in the earthquakes that hit Turkey earlier this month.
Atsu was reported to be missing in the immediate aftermath of the tremors that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6.
The former Ghana international joined Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor last September and scored for the side the day before the earthquakes.
After the tremors caused the collapse of the apartment block in which Atsu was living, his club initially said he had been recovered from the rubble and hospitalised, but that was later confirmed to not be the case.
The Nigeria Football Federation sent their condolences, “We are sending our deepest condolences to the family of Ghanaian international Christian Atsu, his friends and our brothers the Ghana FA,” read a statement shared by the Nigerian Football Federation. “May his soul rest in peace.”
It was a touching tribute from the NFF considering the sporting and cultural rivalry between the two West African nations.
Terry who was a team-mate of Atsu’s during the Ghanaian’s four-year spell at Chelsea, for whom he did not make a competitive appearance – paid tribute on social media.
“RIP my friend,” the former England captain wrote on Twitter, alongside an image of Atsu.
Atsu’s former clubs also expressed their condolences on Saturday, with Chelsea saying his death caused “enormous sadness” and Newcastle calling him: “A talented player and a special person, he will always be fondly remembered by our players, staff and supporters.”
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