Dutch side Ajax has confirmed that one of its players AbdelhakNouri has suffered a permanent brain damage.
The 20-year old collapsed on the pitch in the 73rd minute in a preseason friendly game against German side Werder Bremen.
He was attended to by the medical staff, who performed CPR on the spot. After initial test, the club announced that Nouri was functioning well and fine. However, further tests how that the player’s brain is permanently damaged.
“#Ajax are deeply saddened by the news that AppieNouri has been diagnosed with serious and permanent brain damage. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his loved ones in this difficult time,” the club revealed online.
The director of the club Edwin van der Sar said: “This is the worst possible message. It’s terrible. We feel enormously for his parents, siblings and other relatives. Their suffering is impossible to describe. The blow is also being felt at Ajax, though we knew we had to consider this scenario. They were uncertain days, lots of people in different ways have sympathized with his situation.”
Nouri has attracted sympathy from the Dutch football community. Former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie joined in tweeting support for the player and his family.
The youngster is expected at Amsterdam where he would undergo further treatment. He played 15 games, scoring once in the last term. The whole team is sending their support and praying he pulls through. The game with Bremen had to be abandoned as they were all shocked following the collapse.