Former Newcastle star Christian Atsu rescued from rubble of building after Turkey earthquake
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The former Chelsea and Newcastle star’s manager Christian Atsu has denied reports that the footballer was rescued from the rubble of a destroyed building after a major earthquake in Turkey.
Several reports on Monday night claimed that Atsu, who was reportedly missing along with Hatayspor sporting director Taner Savut, had been found alive, with Portuguese outlet A Bola saying he had suffered “injuries to his right foot and difficulties to breathe”.
These reports, however, remain unconfirmed by Hatayspor, with manager Mustafa Özat and teammate Kerim Alici seeming to suggest that the two are still in trouble.
More than 4,100 people have died and thousands more have been injured after the catastrophic earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria overnight, leveling neighborhoods while families slept.
Atsu was part of the Newcastle team that won promotion to the Premier League in 2017 after joining Chelsea on a season loan, later completing a permanent move.
A post on the club’s official Twitter account read: “Praying for positive news, @ChristianAtsu20.”
Christian Atsu, pictured here playing for Chelsea in 2016, was trapped under the rubble of a building in Turkey.
Thousands of people are known to have died after two massive earthquakes and dozens of aftershocks sent buildings collapsing in Turkey on Monday.
A rescue worker walks past collapsed buildings in Antakya, Turkey, Monday night after the earthquake.
Local media reported that the 31-year-old, pictured here playing for Newcastle in 2017, was alive but trapped under rubble earlier that day.
More than 3,500 people have died and thousands more have been injured after the earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria, with a second quake measuring 7.5 hours after the first.
Atsu had scored a dramatic late winner for his club on Sunday night as they beat Kasimpasa 1-0 at their stadium in Hayat. It is reported that all Kasimpasa players and staff were uninjured in the quake.
The 31-year-old joined Chelsea in 2013 but never played a competitive minute for the club, having gone on loan for several seasons, including to Everton and Newcastle.
Although he only made five appearances for Everton, he impressed enough on loan at Newcastle to make a permanent move to the Magpies.
In total he made 107 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals, before signing for Saudi side Al-Raed in 2021.
Newcastle posted a photo of Atsu when he was at the club on social media, saying they were “praying for good news”.
Atsu was in action for Hatayspor on Sunday, scoring a goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time in a 1-0 win over Kasimpasa.
In a message after the game, he wrote: ‘Important victory for the team. Happy to be on the record.
The earthquake hit hard in Kahramanmaras, where Hatayspor is based.
Hatayspor player Onur Ergun posted an Instagram story in response to earlier reports that he was missing to say were incorrect.
“Thank you very much to everyone who called and asked,” said the midfielder. ‘The news is not true. I’m fine.
Newcastle have posted a message on social media in which they are ‘praying for good news’
Atsu’s most recent Twitter post followed his club’s 1-0 victory on Sunday in which the 31-year-old scored the game-winner in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Atsu also played for Chelsea, although he spent most of his time with the club on loan.
A search and rescue mission is underway to find the people who are trapped under the rubble.
‘I can’t answer the phone because there is a network problem. Get well soon for all of us.
Turkish goalkeeper Ahmed Turkaslan of Yeni Malatyaspor is also said to be missing.
The club’s assistant coach İlhan Var said: “We haven’t found our goalkeeper Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan yet. There are no signs at the moment. His wife came out and described where he might be.
Hatayspor coach Volkan Demirel’s wife shared a tearful message after a massive aftershock with a magnitude of 7.5 hit southern Turkey hours after the original quake.
‘Hatay is very bad’, Zeynep Sever Demirel he said in a video shared on social media. Several of his friends were believed to still be trapped under the rubble, with fears that more footballers could also be affected by the disaster.
According Global Creditthe footballers of the Marasspor team could have stayed in a hotel destroyed by the earthquake.
Other Turkish athletes believed to be missing include 14 volleyball players from the Hatay team, handball international Cemal Kutahya and Hatayspor coach Savas Yukse.
Olympic gold medalist Taha Akgul said around 30-40 wrestlers from a Kahramanmaras-based team were also trapped under the rubble.