Christian Atsu: A star in the making!

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.

Interestingly, Evert0n, under David Moyes, were interested in Atsu. And now that Moyes is in charge of Man United, it will be interesting if he decides to replace Nani and Young, who both seemed to be on and off with their form last season, with Zaha and Atsu.

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.