Newcastle to hold minute’s silence for Christian Atsu after former player was found dead in Turkey

There will be a minute’s silence before Saturday’s Premier League clash between Newcastle and Liverpool after former Magpies winger Christian Atsu was found dead in the rubble of the Turkey earthquake.

Atsu’s agent, Nana Sechere, took to Twitter on Saturday morning to announce the tragic news that Atsu’s body had been recovered 12 days after the disaster that claimed more than 40,000 lives.

“It is with the greatest regret that I have to announce to all supporters that Christian Atsu’s body was unfortunately recovered this morning,” Sechere said in a post published on Saturday.

‘My condolences to his family and loved ones. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their prayers and support.

“I ask that while we make the necessary arrangements, everyone respects the privacy of the family during this very difficult time.”

There will be a minute’s silence for Christian Atsu before Newcastle take on Liverpool

Supporters at St James’ Park will have the chance to pay their respects to Atsu on Saturday.

Atsu played for Newcastle between 2017 and 2021 and his former club will pay their respects when they host Liverpool on Saturday night.

He made 121 appearances for Newcastle and was part of the team that won promotion to the Premier League in 2017 before leaving the club four years later.

Ghanaian international Atsu, 31, played for Hatayspor in the Turkish Super League.

In a message posted on Twitter, Newcastle said: “We are deeply saddened to learn that Christian Atsu has tragically lost his life in the devastating earthquakes in Turkey.”

‘A talented player and a special person, he will always be fondly remembered by our players, staff and supporters. He rests in peace, Christian.

Atsu also had loan spells at Everton and Bournemouth while under contract to Chelsea.

Reports claim that his body will be returned to his native Ghana.

There were hopes that the former winger had been rescued after the disaster unfolded, but Hatayspor and agent Sechere had revealed over the past week that these claims were not true.

Several search and rescue operations were carried out in the rubble of the building where Atsu and Hatayspor sporting director Taner Savut lived, with Savut also missing.

Sechere explained on Tuesday how Atsu’s exact ‘room location’ and even two pairs of his shoes had been pinpointed.

More than 42,000 people have died and thousands more have been injured in the quake, while millions have been left homeless.

Tremors from the deadly quake, which lasted about a minute and could be the largest to hit Turkey, were felt as far away as Egypt, Lebanon and the island of Cyprus.

Atsu was scheduled to fly in from southern Turkey hours before the quake hit, but the Hatayspor manager said on Friday the Ghanaian had opted to stay with the club after scoring the game-winning goal in a Super Lig match on 5 April. February.