“He Signalled”: Frenkie De Jong Shares Emotional Story of How His Friend in a Coma Inspired Him to Join Barca
Frenkie De Jong has revealed how his close friend and former Ajax teammate Abdelhak ‘Appie’ Nouri, who suffered a cardiac arrhythmia attack on the pitch and fell into a coma, played a crucial role in his decision to join Barcelona.
In 2019, De Jong visited Nouri in the hospital, and it was during this visit that he found clarity about his future. Appie’s mother asked Nouri where De Jong should go, listing clubs, and when she mentioned Barcelona, Appie signaled his agreement with his eyebrows.
De Jong shared this emotional story on the TV show De Wereld Draait Door, saying, “That was a very touching moment for me and the family.”
This wasn’t the first time that Nouri had influenced De Jong’s career decisions. When De Jong was at Willem II and had interest from both Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Nouri encouraged him to choose Ajax. Appie’s persuasion played a significant role in De Jong’s decision to join Ajax.
As of now, Nouri is no longer in a coma, but he communicates with his family primarily through facial expressions, including raising his eyebrows and smiling, according to his brother Abderrahim.
