• ‘Appie’ Nouri collapsed in pre-season game last July • ‘If I compare it with the past, at the moment it’s going well’

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The condition of Ajax midfielder Abdelhak Nouri is improving, more than a year after he collapsed during a friendly match and suffered severe brain damage.

Abdelhak ‘Appie’ Nouri: ‘We are with him 24/7, talking to him, praying for him’ Read more

In an interview with the Dutch national broadcaster NOS that aired over the weekend, Nouri’s brother said the family has not given up hope of a full recovery.

Abderrahim Nouri said that after initially being in a coma, his brother has been gradually improving since the start of this year and he can now communicate with his family by moving his mouth or eyebrows. “If I compare it with the past, at the moment it’s going well. Much better,” he said.

However, he added that his brother’s physical condition has deteriorated since his collapse because of his lack of movement.

Nouri, a promising midfielder who rose through the Ajax youth system, was 20 when he collapsed last July during a pre-season match against Werder Bremen.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A mural for Abdelhak Nouri in Amsterdam. Photograph: Robin van Lonkhuijsen/EPA

In June, Ajax said he did not receive adequate treatment on the field and accepted liability for the consequences.