Atsu spends four years without competing with Chelsea

The Ghanaian international Christian Atsu has no trouble getting established in Chelsea in 2013 despite the end of the case without making a single appearance in competition for the Blues.

After a satisfying stay with Portugal, FC Porto and Rio Ave, the winger joined Chelsea for a five-year contract.

The limited opportunities at Stamford Bridge, however, forced him to take out several successive loans from Vitesse Arnhem in the Netherlands, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and Newcastle, which he definitively joined. in 2017.

"I do not regret going to Chelsea," said Atsu The Guardian.

"It was a privilege to be their player.

"And, ultimately, that led me to Newcastle."

The Ghanaian also highlighted his relationship with the Newcastle manager, Rafael Benitez, who would have reconsidered his future at St. James's Park.

"Rafa is like a father," said Atsu.

"It encourages me almost every day. Tactically, Rafa is very detailed but he is not only focused on tactics and training. He is very good at the human side of management, which is so important.

"Everyone here finds Rafa warm, if you have a problem, you can go talk to him, you can talk to him about anything.

"Every day he pushes all the participants in the training, he learns to be a professional on and off the field.

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"It's very important that Rafa stays. Newcastle is a great club and Rafa is an excellent manager, one of the best in the world, one of the few to win the Champions League.

"He's great for this club, with big players coming to Newcastle and we can win trophies."

In his third season with the Magpies, Atsu has made 19 appearances in the Premier League involving 12 starts to date this campaign.