Before formalizing his signing at Ajax, Bounida went to see his friend Abdelhak Nouri, a former Ajax player whose career came to an abrupt end after a heart attack in the middle of a match.
No player in Belgium has caused more ink to flow than Rayane Bounida (16) in the last seven days. From his salary to his length of contract, his passage through the ranks of Ajax, formalized on Monday, has almost no more secrets for anyone.
One of the reasons for his decision to choose Ajax has not been fully disclosed. He preferred the Lancers to Manchester City or PSG to follow in the footsteps of Abdelhak Nouri. “Rayane wants to realize the dream that Appie could not achieve (Editor’s note: Abdelhak’s nickname)”says with great pride Marwane Bounida, the player’s big brother. “If we chose Ajax, it is for our connection with the Nouri family.”
Since the summer of 2017, Abdelhak Nouri is no longer a professional footballer. The Dutch-Moroccan prodigy suffered a heart attack during a friendly match. The player spent more than two years in a coma and still has serious brain damage.