It is now emerging that Ghana’s Christian Atsu was due to travel outside Turkey to visit his family, but cancelled his flight few hours to the deadly earthquakes that took his life.
According to Hatayspor’s Administrative Manager, Fatih Ilek, Atsu cancelled his plane ticket shortly following his performance which earned Hatayspor a win over Kasimpasa in the Turkish top flight.
The Black Stars winger was found dead on Saturday, February 18, after he was declared missing for days following the devastating earthquakes on February 6.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce to all well wishers that sadly Christian Atsu’s body was recovered this morning,” agent Nana Sechere tweeted on Saturday morning.
The Ghana international had spells with Premier League sides Everton, Chelsea and Newcastle.
Atsu joined the Turkish top-flight side Hatayspor in September 2022 and scored the winning goal in a Super Lig match on 5 February.
The Hatayspor’s Administrative Manager revealed that Atsu had plans of leaving Turkey but his goal in his last game for the club changed his mind as he joined in the celebrations.
“Christian Atsu told the coach that he wanted to take more time before our match with Gaziantep FK. ‘Can I leave if I find a team?’ he said. Volkan Demirel also accepted this request,” Ilek told Radyospor.
“He didn’t play against Gaziantep FK, but scored a last-minute goal in the Kasımpasa match. Actually, he was going abroad to visit his family. But when he played well and scored, he cancelled his ticket. The earthquake happened on his happiest day. He had a flight at 11 pm. Cancelled the ticket. There was an earthquake at 4 am. Absolutely a tragedy.”
Since the confirmation of his death, tributes have been pouring in for the former Black Stars international from his former teammates, clubs as well as some of the football associations.
Read also: Atsu’s body would be flown to Ghana; Government confirms player’s demise
