Christian Atsu

[Hansern]

According to the Mirror we've bid 3 mill for him. Plays for Porto. 21 years old, winger and has got 1 year left on his contract.

 

[Skullflower]

also says he wants to go to spurs.

 

[Skullflower]

it also says he has a 10 mill release clause but links to another article by the same journalist where it says the release clause is 8 mill.

 

[red_maradona]

what\s the catch?

 

[Skullflower]

what\s the catch?

he's probably not that good. unless he chooses spurs.

 

[cloggypop]

He sounds like a sneeze.

 

[Ossi]

Spurs can't have a scouting department, they just read the papers who we are linked with.

 

[Glen C]

Not impressed

 

[Skullflower]

Not impressed

fucking dreadful stuff.

 

[King Binny]

His 18 yr old wifey.

Christian Atsu’s wife Marie-Claire Rupio says the 21-year-old Ghana whiz kid is passionate about humanitarian issues.

The 18-year-old met the Ghana international during his loan spell at Rio Ave last season and the two got married in 2012. Marie-Claire, a Hamburger, has replaced her German home with Vila Nova de Gaia because of her husband.

She tells the Portuguese media about her husband’s passion and where his interests lie.“He is a strong person, does not cry easily, but he is very concerned about humanitarian issues,” she said.

 

[King Binny]

Very few clubs can rival FC Porto when it comes to discovering raw talents, nurturing them, making them marketable and selling them at huge profits. The transfers of James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho to Monaco for about £60 million is the latest testament of their club management philosophy. While James Rodriguez was basking in the media spotlight due to his performances and transfer link ups with clubs like Manchester United last season, another young and talented winger was quietly making a name for himself.

Christian Atsu arrived at FC Porto as a 17-year-old skillful winger, in January of 2010, initially struggling with the change in environment and recurring injuries. But on account of his determination and talent, he went on to be named FC Porto’s youth player of the 2010/2011 season. As a reward for his eye catching performances with the youth team, he was called up in the first team by the then manager of FC Porto, Andre Villas-Boas, for a game against Maritimo. However, he ended the match as an unused substitute.

Desperate for first team action, Atsu was loaned out to fellow Portuguese top tier side Rio Ave FC for 2011/12 season. Atsu played 26 matches and scored 6 goals, earning rave reviews along the way. It was this strong performance that earned him the award as Rio Ave’s player of the season. Back at FC Porto for the 2012/13 season, he competed with established names for a place in the starting XI and with 2 goals and 6 assists to back the skills he showed on the flanks to beat the opponent’s defenders, it safe to say Atsu had a productive season.

Where FC Porto have got it slightly wrong in Atsu’s case is his contract. His contract with the club is till the end of the next season. Atsu has a £10 million release clause in his contract but, with just a year left on his contract, Porto know they will lose him for nothing if they do not accept a cut-price deal this summer. Porto have been trying for the last four months to persuade Atsu to commit to a new deal with a massive release clause. However, the player has refused.

This has led to a host of clubs being interested in signing the player on the cheap. Tottenham manager Andre-Villas Boas is interested in signing 20-year-old Porto winger Christian Atsu, to whom he gave a debut during his time in charge of the Portuguese club. Sunderland are also rumoured to be interested in him. However, at this moment, only Liverpool seem to be the club openly indicating their desire to bring in Atsu, as they look to offload Oussama Assaidi and also Stewart Downing.

Already 13 games and 3 goals old for his national team, Ghana, there’s every indication that Atsu would be a key player for Ghana if it qualifies for next year’s World Cup. Be it at the Rodriguez-less FC Porto or some other club, 2013/14 might just be the season Atsu goes from being an excellent prospect to becoming a real star.

 

[StevieM]

Is he a better bet than Ince?

 

[Gary25]

Meh.

 

[King Binny]

Ex-Ghana striker Tony Yeboah has told youngster Christian Atsu not to turn down Liverpool if they are interested in signing him.

According to the UK newspaper The Mirror, the Reds have made a £3 million bid for the Porto winger.

But the Ghana international has a £10 million release clause in his contract.

There are reports Atsu might prefer working with his former Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham Hotspur.

But Yeboah, who had a successful three-year spell with Leeds United in the top-flight, has urged the talented to 21-year-old to move to Anfield.

"Liverpool is the biggest team in England with a lot of tradition. It was my dream to play for them but Leeds blocked any move when the chance came," Yeboah told Footyghana.

"They are playing some good football and give the youth the chance. Their new manager allows the youth to play and it will benefit his development."

"He will grow to be a key member of the Black Stars and this is a nice opportunity to take his game to the next level."

Atsu has remained coy about his future as he wants to concentrate of Ghana's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers next week against Sudan and Lesotho.

 

[gkmacca]

also says he wants to go to spurs.

They always say that. I'm beginning to think they're told it means 'hello' in English.

 

[Silver Sean]

fucking dreadful stuff.

Yes, we've got Coutinho, Sterling, Ibe, why would we be interested in this rubber johnny?

Who the fuck went to the trouble of making that film? If they're his highlights I'd hate to sit through his low lights.

 

[King Binny]

Ghana winger Christian Atsu has confirmed he is ready to ditch FC Porto to chase his dream of playing in the English Premier League.

The 21-year-old is a wanted man by several European clubs including Tottenham Hotspurs and Liverpool.

The Merseyside have made an official bid to sign the Ghana international and it appears they will land their man as the skillful winger confirms he wants to leave Porto.

Atsu has just one year left on his existing deal with the Portuguese champions – meaning Porto will be risking losing him for absolutely nothing if they don’t sell him until the end of next season.

But Atsu’s has already made up his mind to quit the Dragao in fulfillment of his childhood ambition of playing in the Premier League.

“I have one more year contract with FC Porto but as a child I always dream to play at the highest level especially in England,” he told reporters at the Ghana camp on Wednesday.

“I love to play there (England) so when I have the opportunity to play in England for sure I would like to move.”

Atsu’s confirmation settles the debate of where he wants to play his football next season.

All that is left now is for Porto to reach an agreement with the interested clubs for a move to materialize.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Scout Facts:

NAME: Christian Atsu
AGE: 20 (10th January 1992)
BORN: Ada Foah, Ghana
POSITION: Winger
CLUB: Porto
FACTS: Spotted by Feyenoord's academy in Ghana

Christian Atsu is already being heralded as one of the best young African players. We check on the Porto winger.

20-year-old Atsu is a recent introduction to the first-team at the Estadio do Dragao, having been with the club for just over three years.

Atsu began his footballing career on the streets of his hometown Ada Foah, from where he was spotted by Feyenoord's Football Academy in Gomoah Fetteh.

However, despite homing his skills with the academy, his mother told him to return home to finish his eduction, which he did before joining local side Cheetah FC, from where he was spotted by a number of foreign scouts.

A talent spotter for Porto picked him out and he was invited for a trial stint and after just a few days was offered a six-month deal within their academy.

Atsu starred for Porto's academy and before the end of the season, Andre Villas-Boas called him into the senior squad for a game with Marítimo. He did not play but he had obviously done enough to earn a deal and he was handed a three-year contract.

On the back of his new deal, along with team-mate Kelvin, he was sent out on a season-long loan to Rio Ave - and this proved an excellent decision as Atsu blossomed in Northern Portugal.

He played the whole season for Rio Ave, scoring six goals in 27 games. And it was no surprise that after his year away he was introduced into Vítor Pereira's first-team.

But before his debut for Porto this year, Atsu's progress was spotted by his nation and he was called up by the Black Stars - making his debut in June against Lesotho and scoring in the process.

Upon his return to Oporto, Atsu is now a first-team regular for Porto and is showing some wonderful form.

A diminutive left-winger, Atsu's main weapon is his explosive pace, which means he can beat almost any full-back he comes up against.

He is still raw, but there is little doubting his loan spell at Rio Ave did him so much good. His crossing and passing is good, although he still has a tendency to keep his head down and when he does look up he likes to take a shot on, even when it may not be the best option.
The scout says...

There is no doubting Atsu is full of potential and looks a hugely exciting prospect. His progress in the last 12-months has been sublime.

Porto is an ideal club to bring on Atsu and if his continues his progression he could be a name on everyone's lips very soon.
The Scout rating...

Shooting: 7 out of 10
Passing: 8 out of 10
Tackling: 5 out of 10
Heading: 5 out of 10
Pace: 9 out of 10
Vision: 7 out of 10
Current ability: 7 out of 10
Potential ability: 10 out of 10
Current value: £1million
Potential value: £12million

OVERALL SCOUT RATING:58/80
Sky Sports Scout Ratings:

0-10 - No hoper
11-20 - Should look elsewhere
21-30 - Might not make it
31-40 - Has work to do
41-50 - Keep an eye on him
51-60 - Great prospect
61-70 - On his way to the top
71-80 - Already World-class

 

[kingjulian]

If I said "Jesus"every time I sneezed, would I then be called a Christian Atsu?

 

[Buddha]

For the money being talked about, his raw potential is worth a gamble.

 

[Hansern]

Good point, and its strange that Porto have such faith in him yet loads of people on here think he's crap based on some Youtube clips.

If its one club I'd trust regarding player potential and ability, its Porto.

 

[Mamma Mia]

Good point, and its strange that Porto have such faith in him yet loads of people on here think he's crap based on some Youtube clips.

If its one club I'd trust regarding player potential and ability, its Porto.

Shit. So we wouldn't want them to sell him to us then?

 

[Fabio]

Times reporting that a deal I'd nearly done for this lad (according to twatter)

 

[Fabio]

@LFCTS: Liverpool are closing in on a deal to sign Christian Atsu - Tony Barrett and Gary Jacob on The Times"

 

[red_maradona]

forgot about him - is he a wide man? surely this must mean the end of downing and assman?

 

[OLD_Lewy]

I hope not, downing has some great stats from last season, not that they tell the whole story, id really like him to stay and at least keep a squad role

 

[red_maradona]

I hope not, downing has some great stats from last season, not that they tell the whole story, id really like him to stay and at least keep a squad role

sadly I don't think he should stay as he is a blot on our ambition and we could do with shifting ageing (depreciating) assets.

 

[OLD_Lewy]

sadly I don't think he should stay as he is a blot on our ambition and we could do with shifting ageing (depreciating) assets.

we wouldnt sell him for much, if his wages aren't too high (which they probably are unfortunately) then id keep him, having said that it would probably be better to stop him getting in the way of the youngsters coming through

 

[red_maradona]

next year you could have atsu, iago, coutinho, and sterling all competing for two wide slots, with ibe trying to get a sniff. downing has no future.

 

[OLD_Lewy]

yeah thats fair enough, couldnt hurt to have experience though