Ajax cancel contract of bed-ridden Abdelhak Nouri, 22, with family set for bitter legal war over ‘inadequate treatment’
AJAX have reportedly cancelled the contract of Abdelhak Nouri, the star midfielder whose career was tragically ended by a cardiac arrhythmia attack in July 2017.
Nouri, 22, suffered severe permanent brain damage after collapsing during a friendly with Werder Bremen and the Dutch club have paid his wages in full since then.
Instead, they are in protracted negotiations with his lawyer and family over a settlement.
Despite reportedly informing them of the intention to cancel Nouri's contract, Ajax will continue to pay his wages until it expires on July 1.
It was claimed last week that the Amsterdam giants were prepared to offer £4.5million having previously admitted to providing "inadequate" on-field treatment for their man as he collapsed.
But the family are said to be seeking a "significantly" higher payout.
He often shows emotions. Sometimes he is emotional, but often there is also a smile. That does us good."
Nouri's brother, Abderrahim
Speaking in June 2018, Ajax general manager Edwin Van der Sar said: “We recognise our responsibility and liability for the consequences of this.
“For a long time we were convinced that Abdelhak had received the best possible care on the field.”
Independent investigators found the lack of a defibrillator to be a potential factor in preventing Nouri's condition from deteriorating.
Nouri's brother Abderrahim recently confirmed he is "much better" since awaking from a coma and returning home, however the 2016/17 Jong Ajax Player of the Year remains bed-ridden.
He said: "I must say that since he is at home it is going much better than before in the hospital.
"He is aware of where he is, he is back in a familiar environment with his family. He’s no longer in a coma. He’s just awake.
"He sleeps, he sneezes, he eats, he burps, but it’s not like he gets out of bed. He’s very bed-ridden and still very dependent on us.
"On his good days, there is a form of communication, for example, confirmation with his eyebrows or a smile. But you notice that he can’t last that very long.
"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, for example.
"Then he watches. You notice that he likes that very much. He often shows emotions. Sometimes he is emotional, but often there is also a smile. That does us good. That makes you really appreciate a smile."