Nigerian comedian Emmanuel Iweke said he reached out to the late Ghanaian player Christian Atsu - who was tragically found dead on Saturday in the rubble of the Turkey earthquake - for financial assistance in 2015.

The comedian known as "Craze Clown" explained that the former Newcastle and Chelsea player offered to pay his tuition fees until he graduated from school.

Iweki posted a photo of the conversation with Atsu, who promised to make sure he completes his studies at the school.

"I will make sure you complete your studies and get a good job," Atsu told Iwoki.

Christian has been supporting me from way back in 2015. When I lost my dad, he l reached out and offered to pay my fees until I graduated and he did 🙏🏾🙏🏾 you've been a great friend of mine Chris and I will surely miss you 🙏🏾 I really can't hold back the tears 🙏🏾🙏🏾 Rest well brother pic.twitter.com/15oMIbPacn

— Dr Craze (@crazeclown) February 18, 2023

The comedian described the late soccer player as a "great friend".

He added, "Christian has been supporting me for a long time in 2015... when I lost my father, he contacted me and offered to pay my fees until I graduated, and he did."

He continued, "You were a great friend to me, and I will miss you Chris for sure .. I cannot hold back the tears .. Rest in peace brother."

Atsu has been donating to a number of schools and orphanages and striving to help Ghanaian children.

Atsu's body was found under the rubble 12 days after the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey with a magnitude of 7.8, and his body is scheduled to be transported to his country today.

Atsu was scheduled to fly out of the country hours before the earthquake, but canceled his trip to stay with his teammates after he scored the dramatic winning goal in the Turkish League on the fifth of this month.

After days of desperately searching for Atsu, his agent said his body was tragically found buried under the rubble on Saturday.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said his body would be brought home on Sunday.

🕊️🙏🏾 https://t.co/IiwH17WaeC

— Dr Craze (@crazeclown) February 18, 2023

She added, "His body will be accompanied by his family and the Ghanaian ambassador to Turkey on board the Turkish Airlines flight to Accra." Rescue workers found him as he was staying in a 12-storey building of luxury apartments that overturned in the city of Antakya in Hatay.

Atsu's older brother and twin sister were at the scene when his body was recovered.

Atsu, who has 3 children, spent 4 seasons at Chelsea before moving permanently to Newcastle in 2017.

Tributes poured in for the midfielder, with his club describing him as a "beautiful person", and players across the UK observed a minute's silence or applause before kick-off on Saturday, in a moving tribute to the star.

This breaks my heart so much 💔😥🙏🏾 can't believe I'm typing RIP to you Christian 😥💔💔💔 I've been praying and hoping you come out alive 💔 Rest Well my friend @ChristianAtsu20 pic.twitter.com/ hiS7LGjxVV

— Dr Craze (@crazeclown) February 18, 2023

His wife, Marie Claire, and his children were present at St James' Park (in the Newcastle-Liverpool match), where Newcastle praised the late winger.

Atsu began his career in the Premier League with Chelsea, before moving to Newcastle United and Everton.

He is among the more than 46,000 people who died due to the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on the sixth of this month, and the death toll is expected to rise as the completion of building debris in the worst-affected areas is lifted.