Following reports that Ghana international Christian Atsu had been found and rescued after the catastrophic earthquake in Turkey, his agent has now confirmed that the former Newcastle United star is, in fact, still missing.
The death toll following the disaster in Turkey and Syria on Monday is now said to have risen to 11 000 fatalities.
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Earlier this week, it was reported that Atsu has been pulled from the rubble and taken to hospital with injuries to his leg and breathing difficulties after being trapped under some heavy debris.
However, Atsu's agent Nana Sechere has now dismissed claims that the winger was found, revealing that his whereabouts are still unknown at this stage.
"We are doing everything we can to locate Christian," Sechere said, according to BBC Sport Africa.
"As you can imagine, this continues to be a devastating time for his family."
In a Twitter post, the agent added: "Following yesterday's update from the club that Christian had been pulled out alive, we are yet to confirm Christian's whereabouts."
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. pic.twitter.com/WKteG3l4cp
— Nana Sechere (@iAmNana7) February 8, 2023
The 31-year-old attacker's manager at current club Hatayspor, Volkan Demirel, has also told Spor Arena that neither Atsu nor the team's sporting director, Taner Savut, have been traced despite contrasting earlier reports.
Ghana's ambassador to Turkey, Francisca Ashietey-Odunton, told radio station Joy FM there was "confusion" about where the player had been taken following his alleged recovery.
"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," she said.
"However, in all the confusion – which is understandable under the circumstances [as you are rescued you are put in an ambulance and sent to the hospital] – they are not sure yet which particular hospital or health facility he has been sent to.
"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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