Juventus Captain Danilo Shares Humbling Story About Christian Atsu in Tribute

Juventus Captain Danilo Shares Humbling Story About Christian Atsu in Tribute

Lukman Mumuni
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:26 PM
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  • Danilo has shared a touching story about Ghana winger Christian Atsu
  • The Brazilian played with Atsu in the Portuguese league at FC Porto
  • Atsu was tragically killed during the earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Juventus and Brazilian defender, Danilo has paid an emotional tribute to Ghana winger, Christian Atsu, who passed away following the Turkey-Syria earthquake.

Danilo and Atsu were teammates at Portuguese giants, FC Porto, breaking into the senior team in the same year.

Atsu sadly died after being trapped under rubble for 12 days, following the devastating disaster which claimed the lives of over 40,000 people in Turkey and Syria.

Danilo, Christian Atsu, FC Porto, Juventus
Danilo has paid tribute to former teammate Christian Atsu following the death of the Ghanaian winger. Credit: @FCPorto
Source: Twitter

The Juventus captain, in paying tribute to Atsu, revealed how the Ghana international never forgot his humble beginnings.

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Danilo wrote on Instagram, as quoted by Juve FC:

“Moments considered ‘normal’ can teach us great lessons. 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."

Danilo said the rest of the team, in their self-professed superficiality, always laughed and asked Atsu why he was so hungry.

“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 he learned not to waste anything that he had to eat, because he didn’t know when and what it would be the next meal. What a gut-punch, if that’s worth the pun."

The Brazilian also recalled in their last days together at FC Porto, when Atsu asked him for a souvenir shirt, commenting that when the Ghanaian was a father, he would tell his children he had played alongside 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.”

Atsu's body arrives in Ghana

Sports Brief also reported on the remains of Atsu finally arriving in Ghana from Turkey following his passing after a devastating earthquake on February 6.

Representatives of the government, family, friends and former footballers were at the Kotoko International Airport where the body was delivered for final rites.

In emotional scenes at the airport, many struggled to hold back tears while others wailed in sorrow as the tragic cargo exited a Turkish Airlines plane.

Authors
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Lukman Mumuni
Lukman Abdul Mumin is a Sports Journalist based in Accra, Ghana. He has been writing for the past five years. Lukman joined Sports Brief as an Editor for the Local Desk in 2022.
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