Robin Van Persie pays tribute to Ghanaian defender Christian Gyan who died on Wednesday

• Former Manchester United striker Robin Van Persie has paid tribute to ex-Feyenoord defender Christian Gyan
• Christian Gyan passed on on Wednesday, December 29, after losing his battle with cancer at a hospital in the Netherlands
• Robin Van Persie and Christian Gyan played together at Dutch giants Feyenoord during the early days of his career

Former Manchester United and Holland forward Robin Van Persie is heartbroken by the demise of ex-teammate and Ghanaian defender Christian Gyan.

Christian Gyan died on Wednesday after a four year battle with cancer, at the age of 43.

The football world has been left saddened by the news, with an emotional Van Persie showing gratitude while mourning the FIFA U17 World Cup winner.

"A beautiful soul is never forgotten. You were there for me in the early days of my career and supported me like a big brother. I will forever be thankful for those memories. Rest in peace Christian," Van Persie wrote on Twitter.

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Van Persie arrived at Feyenoord as a teenager during the early 2000's while Gyan was an established name in the Feyenoord team.

Christian Gyan became a cult hero at Feyenoord after ten years with the Dutch Eredivisie giants, where he won several trophies including the UEFA Cup in 2002.

Van Persie was close to Gyan in the four years he spent at the club before his departure to Arsenal in 2004.

The Ghanaian football left the Feyenoord in 2008 to join TPS and later RoPS, but hanged his boots in 2010.

Christian Gyan was a member of the Black Starlets team in 1995 that won the FIFA U17 World Cup in Ecuador.

Former Ghana defender Christian Gyan passes on at 43

Earlier, SportsBrief.com reported that, Christian Gyan, famously known as Atta Rasta, a former Ghana and Feyenoord player has passed on at the age of 43, according to GHANASoccernet.com.

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The ex-footballer reportedly passed on in a hospital in the Netherlands where has been basing for sometime now.

In a report by GHANASoccernet, sighted by SportsBrief, the 43-year-old died after losing his battle with cancer.