Ghana national player and former Newcastle midfielder Christian Atsu (AFP)

The body of former Ghana international Christian Atsu was discovered 13 days after the massive earthquake hit Turkey, according to his manager, citing local media.

Atsu, 31, was stuck in a 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing more than 43,000 people in both countries.

There were initial reports he had been rescued a day after the quake, but these turned out to be false. His Turkish manager, Murat Uzunmehmet, told the DHA news agency on Saturday that his body had been discovered under rubble in the Turkish southern province of Hatay.

"We have reached his lifeless body. His belongings are still being removed. His phone was also found," Uzunmehmet told DHA.

Atsu's body was discovered by search and rescue workers at Ronesans Residence, a block of high-rise luxury flats that collapsed in Antakya city, Hatay.

According to state news agency Anadolu, Turkish police arrested the building's contractor at Istanbul airport last week as he appeared to be on his way to Montenegro.