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Football star's horrific family tragedy moments after milestone

andrew reid
·3-min read
Pictured here, Nathan Ake in a Champions League game for Manchester City.
Nathan Ake revealed that his father died shortly after he scored a first Champions League goal for Manchester City. Pic: Getty

Manchester City's Nathan Ake has taken to social media to share his heartbreaking family tragedy, moments after he celebrated a stunning career first.

Shortly after scoring his first ever Champions League goal in City's 6-3 win over RB Leipzig, Ake was given the heartbreaking news that his father had died.

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Ake's father had been terminally ill and died moments after watching his son's special milestone at the Etihad Stadium.

The Dutch defender opened the scoring in Manchester as City began their latest Champions League campaign with a 6-3 victory over the German side who were semi-finalists in the competition in 2020.

Ake dedicated the special moment to the memory of his dad, who he said would "always be in my heart".

Nathan Ake's late father Moise is seen on the left with the Manchester City player on the far right.
Ake's father (L) Moise had been battling illness for quite some time. Pic: Instagram

In a moving social media post, the 26-year-old revealed the game was one of the last things his dying father saw.

"The past few weeks have been the toughest of my life, my dad has been very ill and there was no more treatment possible. I was lucky to have a lot of support from my fiancee, family and friends," Ake wrote on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nathan Aké (@nathanake)

"Yesterday after a difficult time I scored my first Champions League goal, and only a few minutes after he passed away peacefully with my mum and brother by his side.

"Maybe it was meant to be, watching me play always made him proud and happy. I know you're always with me, you will always be in my heart and this one was for you dad."

Football world sends messages of support to player

Ake spoke to media immediately after the game, giving no indication of his difficult personal situation.

Following the defender's heartbreaking post on social media, football fans flooded the internet to send their condolences to the 26-year-old.

with agencies

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