CHRISTIAN ATSU has been tragically found dead 12 days after the Turkey earthquake, it has been confirmed.
The former Newcastle and Chelsea player was caught up in the devastating 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing more than 43,000 people.
“Atsu’s lifeless body was found under the rubble,” Murat Uzunmehmet told reporters in Hatay.
“Currently, more items are still being taken out. His phone was also found.”
There were initial reports the midfielder had been rescued a day after the quake, but these turned out to be false.
Who is Christian Atsu’s wife?
Atsu met his wife Marie-Claire Rupio in Portugal nearly a decade ago when he was playing for Porto.
The pair got married in 2012 and welcomed three kids to their lives.
Atsu said to Tv3 Sports: “I met my wife in Portugal and you can see we have a beautiful family. We’ve been together for nine to ten years and I just love her.”
Atsu previously played for Chelsea, Everton, Newcastle and Bournemouth in the Premier League.
The 31-year-old has also had spells in Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Holland.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk