Abdelhak Nouri’s family announced the good news, that the Dutch was awake from the coma, a difficult state that he was reduced to for almost three years. The unfortunate incident had happened back in 2017 when the Eredivisie side were playing Werder Bremen in a preseason friendly. Nouri had suffered from a cardiac arrhythmia attack and when later treated in hospital, was found to have sustained severe brain damage.

‘Appie’ rose through the ranks at Johan Cruyff Arena rapidly, increasing the count of his suitors around Europe. He featured for Ajax’s senior team for a total of nine times, before falling prey to the tragic incident. Many believe he would have been of the same quality and calibre as Hakim Ziyech. 

"Had this happened, it's possible that Abdelhak would have come out in a better condition. This isn't certain, but it's a possibility. We recognise our responsibility and liability for the consequences of this," Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar spoke after Nouri’s diagnostics reports revealed De Winter (then on-field medic) deviated from UEFA's guidelines and began resuscitation attempts too late.

Meanwhile, Abderrahim assures that his family are doing their level best to help speed up his brother’s recovery. "We talk to him like he’s not sick. We take him into our conversations and we watch football with him in the living room.”