‘I Hope Atsu’s Name Will Never Go Away’ - Wife | Football/Soccer

Christian Atsu’s wife, Marie-Claire Rupio, says she “hopes his name will never go away”, six months after his tragic death.

In an exclusive interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Rupio spoke about the former Newcastle United and Ghana midfielder, who lost his life in the earthquakes that devastated parts of Turkey and Syria.

The earthquakes claimed more than 50,000 lives, with Atsu, 31, found dead under the rubble of his home in Antakya on February 18, almost two weeks after the quakes.

Atsu and Rupio had three children together aged nine, six, and three at the time of his death.

“For me, it’s very important that his name is still there, especially for the children, that he was known, that he was loved by everybody,” she says.

“I just hope that his name will never go away.”

Speaking to media for the first time since his passing, Rupio described the confusion over whether Atsu was safe, hearing about developments on the radio, and the impact his death has had on her and their children.

“I was shocked, it was hard to believe,” she stated.

Atsu was in Turkey having signed for Hatayspor last September, while his family remained in Newcastle.

Rupio last spoke with him on Saturday, February 4, and because his team was playing Kasimpasa the next day, he planned to speak with her again on the coming Monday.

Atsu scored the game’s only goal in stoppage time, and his wife messaged to congratulate him. His reply to thank her would be the last contact they had.

On the Monday, Rupio heard about the earthquake on the radio while driving.

“I didn’t believe that it could happen in a place [where] he would be,” she said. “As a human being, you think this can’t happen to you or anybody you love.

“I was like ‘he’s fine and he will call,” but then after a while his sister called and told me that his building had totally collapsed. I was shocked, it was hard to believe.”