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Atsu's whereabouts unknown, say agent and ambassador

Christian Atsu remains missing in Turkey
Christian Atsu remains missing in Turkey

The whereabouts of Ghanaian international footballer Christian Atsu remain uncertain, despite his employer stating yesterday that he had been pulled alive from rubble, following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey.

Atsu's club Hatayspor said that the played had been found alive but injured and pulled out of the rubble.

However in a social media post, the player's agent Nana Sechere said that Atsu's location remains unknown.

Sechere wrote: "Following yesterdays update from the club that Christian had been pulled out alive, we are yet to confirm Christian's whereabouts.

"As you can imagine, this continues to be a devastating time for his family and we are doing everything we can to locate Christian."

Hatayspor team doctor, Gurbey Kahveci confirmed that Atsu has yet to be located and was not at the hospital which the club had been informed he had been taken to.

Along with Atsu, Hatayspor sporting director Taner Savut is also missing and Kahveci claims that officials from the club went to the hospital that the player had supposedly been sent to, but he was not there.

Speaking to Ghananian radio station Joy FM Kahveci said: "When we heard the news that "he was taken to Dortyol Hospital", we especially went and looked, but it was not there.

"It the moment, we accept that [the sporting director] Taner Savut and Christian Atsu were not found, unfortunately."

Ghana's Ambassador to Turkey, Francisca Ashietey-Odunton backed up Kahveci's account and said: "Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here informed me that they wanted to confirm if Christian Atsu had been found and rescued, and sent to a medical centre."

However Ashietey-Odunton appeared to suggest that it may be a case that Atsu was simply brought to a different medical facility.

"However, in all the confusion – which is understandable under the circumstances – they are not sure yet which particular hospital or health facility he has been sent to," she said.

"This morning again, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured me they are working feverishly to find out which facility he was sent to and will get back to me as soon as possible because I have been on them that I need to go and see him."

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