Christian Atsu

[jono]

This hacked Man Citeh player database that we've gotten our hands on is ghreat!

Better than moneyball!

[James P]

Yep - Ghanaian speed merchant.

Damn drug dealers.

[Bender]

[Assassin]

WTF Bender, are you just making posts and editing them to keep your post count up

[Bender]

WTF Bender, are you just making posts and editing them to keep your post count up

no someone else already posted what i posted so i deleted it

[baitman]

this lads first touch to control the ball coming in to him [from on the videos] looks a little clumsy. with premiership marking he might not get as much time to control, so needs work.

[Shaggy]

Ghana hails exciting new talent
By Michael Oti Adjei BBC Sport, Accra

The emergence of exciting young players is not a new phenomenon in Ghana.

Over the years, many youngsters have burst onto the stage amid shouts of, "he's the next legend!"

Sadly, many of them have flattered to deceive while others have sunk without trace.

But in Christian Atsu the Black Stars have a player of undoubted ability, an excellent prospect, whose movement with the ball at his feet is exceptional.

If the 19-year-old goes on to become a football great, many will remember 8 September 2012 as the day he officially announced his arrival.

That is the day Atsu - who plays for FC Porto in Portugal - made only his third appearance for Ghana against Malawi in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Accra.

Although he impressed in two previous matches against Lesotho and China, it was against the Flames that Atsu made people sit up and take more notice of him.

His first touch was a thing of beauty - gliding past opposition defenders with remarkable ease - and his overall use of the ball was so mature for someone so young.

At some point we thought we were watching a reincarnation of the legendary Abedi Pele, especially when Atsu had the ball glued to his left foot while running at and scaring Malawian defenders.

Flair, movement and technical skill all intertwined into a Ghanaian football machine?

Naturally, many Black Stars fans, thrilled by his goal against Malawi, went on social media to hail the arrival of the 'Ghanaian Messi'.

Not that being compared with the Barcelona magician unsettles Atsu.

"Messi is my idol. There's no Ghanaian Messi, there is no other Messi in this world," he told BBC Sport.

"I can never play even one percent of what Messi is doing. It's impossible."

Two goals in his first four games for Ghana suggest an eye for goal but Atsu believes his biggest quality lies elsewhere.

"For anyone to dribble, the first touch has to be perfect. I think that is my biggest quality."

Not many who have seen him in action would disagree with that self-assessment.

Having begun his football education at the Feyernood Academy in Ghana, Atsu earned a contract with FC Porto in 2010 and was immediately loaned out to Rio Ave.

Twenty-seven appearances and six goals later, national team officials came knocking on his door.

Ghanaian football connoisseurs, fans and fellow-players are unanimous in their belief that Atsu has a bright future ahead of him.

"Ghanaians shouldn't put too much pressure on him," cautions Black Stars striker Dede Ayew.

The 2011 BBC African Footballer of the year added: "I believe that he's going to be a great player."

Asamoah Gyan has also seen enough to be excited about: "I've seen all three games that he has played for Ghana and he's been incredible.

"If he continues this way he's going to be a star."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19570312

[Shaggy]

Paul Grech @paul_grech
RT @OtiAdjei Spoken to Christian Atsu right hand man moments ago. Suggest #LFC is indeed most likely destination with Porto exit inevitable

[BigChief]

Replacing Assaidi with a black Assaidi. Not holding my breath on this one.

[Danish_Pastry]

He needs to learn to hit the target - both players and goal.
But speed is there - just like M. Gonzalez once under Rafa.

[BigChief]

He is not the next Messi, he is a very naughty boy.

[Fosterbloke]

He has very good strength and pace. We don't really have that at the moment.

[James P]

He has very good strength and pace. We don't really have that at the moment.

Man strength or just regular strength?

[Fosterbloke]

Man strength or just regular strength?

Gladiatorial strength

[Chazza]

Liverpool in pole position to sign Porto winger Christian Atsu
20 Jun 2013 08:00

Reds leading race for pacy Ghana international

Liverpool FC are in pole position to sign Christian Atsu this summer – but the Reds fear they will have to wait if they are to secure the FC Porto winger.

The Ghanaian, a pacy, direct wide player, has been identified as an ideal addition to Brendan Rodgers’ squad, but Liverpool are aware that the Porto are likely to call all the shots in negotiations.

Atsu, 21, has just one year remaining his current contract, and has informed the Portuguese club that he does not intend to sign a new one at Estadio do Dragao.

Liverpool believe the player could be available for as little as £3m, and had hoped Porto would agree to a quick sale.

But the Portuguese champions are notoriously strict negotiators, and have no pressing need to sell, so Reds officials suspect a potential deal could drag on through the summer, with Rodgers lining up alternative targets in case Atsu is made to sit out the final year of his contract with Porto.

The Reds’ move for Luis Alberto, meanwhile, remains on track, with negotiations with Sevilla expected to reach a conclusion this week.

Confirmation of the £7.7m signing of Iago Aspas from Celta Vigo is also imminent, whilst the club remain in negotiations for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and Sporting Lisbon defender Tiago Ilori.

Liverpool have also expressed an interest in Athletic Bilbao’s highly-rated teenager Unai Lopez, but with the 17-year-old attracting the attentions of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as clubs from Italy, fear their hopes of signing the attacking midfielder are slim.

The Reds are also unlikely to allow defender Andre Widsom to join Fulham on loan this summer.

The Cottagers are interested in taking the 20-year-old on a season-long deal, but the ECHO understands Liverpool, whilst open to the idea of loaning him, would prefer to send him to a club outside of the Premier League, where there would be an option to recall him to Anfield, if required.

Wisdom enjoyed a breakthrough season with the Reds last season, making 19 appearances in all competitions, and was one of the few players to emerge with credit from England’s poor showing at the European U21 Championships earlier this month.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-pole-position-sign-4685834