Ghanaian footballer, Christian Atsu has died, Citi Sports can regrettably report.
His demise was confirmed by his agent, Nana Sechere.
The 31-year-old had been reported to have been trapped under the rubble in the aftermath of the earthquakes 12 days ago in Syria and Turkey, where the Ghanaian played club football for Hatayspor.
Inaccurate reports had earlier indicated that Atsu had been pulled from the rubble, injured but still alive, and taken to a hospital for treatment.
Hours after the reports, which were echoed by Hatayspor Vice President, Mustafa Ozat and the Ghana Football Association but were later confirmed to be untrue.
The search for the player resumed in earnest, with reports emerging days later that his shoe had been found in the debris.
In his final game, the night before the quakes struck, Atsu scored a wonderful last minute winner from a free-kick for Hatayspor.
Before making the move to Turkey, Atsu had been at Porto, Rio Ave, Chelsea, Vitesse, Bournemouth, Everton, Newcastle, Malaga, Al-Raed and Manaus.
He also featured 65 times for Ghana’s Black Stars, scoring nine goals.
He is survived by his partner Marie Claire Rubio and three kids; two sons and a daughter.
