Juventus defender Danilo wrote a heartfelt and moving tribute after his former FC Porto teammate Christian Atsu was confirmed dead in the Turkey earthquake. ‘What a gut-punch.’
Ghana international winger Atsu had only just turned 31 when the earthquake struck and destroyed the apartment building he was living in.
He had joined Hatayspor in September 2022, with previous experiences at the likes of FC Porto, Chelsea, Vitesse, Newcastle United, Bournemouth, Everton and Malaga.
It was at Porto where Atsu crossed paths with Danilo very early into his career, coming through the academy to the senior squad in 2011-12.
“Moments considered ‘normal’ can teach us great lessons,” Danilo wrote on Instagram.
“I remember well, our FC Porto lunches or dinners at the Sol Verde hotel, in Espinho, Portugal, where you always ate all the chicken and also the bone. That’s right. The bone.
“We, in our superficiality, always laughed and said: ‘Why so hungry Atsu?! ‘
“That is until that day, even without having to, and always taking everything lightly and with that wide smile, he explained to us that he had the habit of also eating the bone, because in childhood I learned not to waste anything that I had to eat, because I didn’t know when and what it would be the next meal. Damn, what a gut-punch, if that’s worth the pun.
“Between us, those last days of FC Porto where you asked me for a souvenir shirt saying: ‘When I’m a dad, I’ll tell my kids that one day I played with Danilo. ‘
“Just saying, you were an inspiration without even knowing. I’ll tell my kids that I played and met such a human being like you. Rest well, brother.”
In the chaotic first days after the earthquake, there had been reports Atsu had been found injured and taken to hospital, but then he could not be traced.
Tragically, it was confirmed today that he died in the collapse of the apartment building, joining the now more than 46,000 who have died in Turkey and Syria.