Abdelhak Nouri, a youth exponent from the Ajax academy, has finally woke after spending over a year in a coma, the player's brother confirms. The 21-year-old midfielder sent a wave of sadness to the football world in July last year after collapsing during a preseason friendly against Werder Bremen.
Nouri – popularly known as "Appie" by his teammates - was subsequently airlifted to the hospital by a trauma helicopter and a statement released by Ajax a few days suggested that he had suffered severe and permanent brain damage which directly resulted from the incident. The Holland prodigy was eventually discharged from intensive care on July 25, 2017, in a coma but being able to breathe freely without support.
In an interview with Dutch news outlet NOS, Abdelhak Nouri's brother, Abderrahim, revealed that he is up and responsive than the family has ever seen in recent time.
"Not in the beginning," he said when questioned about his little brother's communication ability.
"He was just in a coma and had his eyes closed. Slowly he was waking up a bit more and more.
"But since December and January, his awareness has become a little better and there is a form of communication. When you asked him something, he opened his mouth or confirmed he understood by raising an eyebrow," Abderrahim added.
"The doctor in Austria told us the diagnosis. Your brother or son will be like this, this and this and won't be able to do this, this this. That was a real shock.
"Of course, I believe in science and I believe in what I see, but if we talk about the future, I think time will teach us. We believe he is capable of anything. Nothing is difficult for him. And we keep our hopes up. For people from outside that won't understand - you just need to keep hope.
"Neurologically, he is much better than before. Physically, it's a little more difficult and we see a little deterioration but that's pure because he is not moving. Sometimes he comes out of bed to sit in his wheelchair.
"That was more difficult before. But he has ups and downs. His resistance and immune system are very low. It swings a lot."
Back in June, a statement released by Ajax confirmed that the treatment Nouri received on-pitch after collapsing was "inadequate" and could have massively affected his plight. The club's managing director, Edwin Van Der Sar, consequently came out to take full blame of the happening on behalf of Dutch outfit and apologized to the player's family.
Ajax reportedly took on th responbility of paying all of his hospital bills and, although the starlet's condition will not permit him to play football anytime soon, the club listed him as a member of the first team squad ahead of the 2017–18 season.
