By Ameenu Shardow
Newly found Ghanaian sensation Christian Atsu insists he has too much respect for Lionel Messi to take up his name.
The 20-year-old was a second half substitute in the Ghana’s 7-0 demolition of Lesotho in the opening 2014 World Cup qualifiers on Friday where thrilled fans with his silky skills and football artistry.
The FC Porto winger capped his impressive Black Stars debut with a well taken goal late in the game which had majority of the supporters and even including stand-in captain Sulley Muntari likened him to Argentine and Barcelona great Lionel Messi.
But Atsu who spent last season on loan at Rio Ave where he emerged the club’s best player in the 2011/12 season says the name ‘Messi’ is too much of a tag to carry in his young but budding career.
“No that tag ‘Messi’ doesn’t put any pressure on me but I will tell Ghanaians to respect that name and stop putting it on me because I am Christian Atsu.†he told GHANAsoccernet.com.
Atsu is expected to play a part in Ghana’s second World Cup qualifier against African champions Zambia in Ndola on Saturday.