Former Premier League star Christian Atsu is reportedly ‘trapped under the rubble’ following the tragic 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Turkey.
The former Chelsea and Newcastle winger, now at Super Lig side Hatayspor, is claimed to be missing with a search and rescue operation underway.
According to Turkish news outlet Star, Atsu – along with club sporting director Taner Savut – were caught up in the natural disaster in Kahramanmaras, where Hatayspor are based.
They have stated that two players from Hatayspor – Burak Oksuz and Bertug Yildirim – were rescued from the rubble.
And two members of the technical team – Ekrem Eksioglu and Osman Ates – also survived the wreckage with their health said to be good.
However Atsu, who only joined the side last summer from Saudi side Al-Raed, and Savut are yet to be found as rescue teams look for the pair.
Ghana international Atsu joined Chelsea in 2013, where he was shipped off on loan spells to Everton and Bournemouth, along with Vitesse, Malaga and Newcastle.
The Magpies turned his temporary stay into a permanent switch in 2017 after Atsu helped the Toon win the Championship title.
He stayed at the club until 2021, before making the move to the Middle East where he then returned to Europe last year to link up with Hatayspor.
Atsu had only scored his first goal for the club this weekend prior to the earthquake hitting in a 1-0 win over Kasimpasa.
Turkish newspaper Haberturk have stated that Hatayspor midfielder Onur Ergun and club translator Emre have also not been reached.
Meanwhile goalkeeper Ahmet Turkaslan, who plays for second-tier outfit Yeni Malatyaspor, is another that is missing.
