Tributes have been paid to former Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote after his sudden death at the age of 30. The Ivory Coast international suffered a heart attack during a training session with Chinese club Beijing Enterprise on Monday.
It has also emerged that the partner of the father of three is expecting a baby in the coming weeks.
Tiote left Newcastle in February after nearly seven years at St James’ Park, during which time he made 156 appearances and scored one goal.
A friend of Cheick Tiote has revealed his final WhatsApp exchange with the former Newcastle midfielder who died on Monday.
His friend Yusuf Abubakar shared his final conversation with Tiote on Twitter – exchanged just hours before news broke of the star’s tragic death.
“The words of Tiote when we chatted today,” he posted on the social media. “May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace Aljanah.”
Tiote was plying his trade in the second tier in China for Beijing Enterprises. He had played 17 times for the club before his death
