Manchester United’s new signing, Donny van de Beek, will wear the number 34 shirt in honor of former Ajax sideman Abdelhak Nouri, who suffered a brain injury after suffering a central attack on the field.
United announced on Wednesday that they have reached an agreement for the Dutch foreigner for an initial price of 39 million euros ($46 million).
Nouri, now 23, suffered a brain injury while playing for Ajax in a preseason attack in Austria in 2017.
Van De Beek, also 23, explained why he wore the number 34 shirt in an interview on United’s official website.
“It’s something special to me because my intelligent friend Abdelhak Nouri . . . you know the story, he had a center attack and he’s a smart friend of mine.
“I am very close to your family circle and your brother is one of my most productive companions and I communicate a lot with them.
“So I have to wear his old number on my blouse and I need to keep fond memories with this number. “
Van de Beek, who signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford, is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first signing in the summer window.
(AFP)