Man United have handed Donny van de Beek his new squad number after confirming him as the first signing of the summer, and there's a poignant reason for the choice



Van de Beek specifically requested the jersey to pay tribute to his former Ajax teammate and close friend Abdelhak Nouri, who collapsed during a pre-season game against Werder Bremen in 2017 and suffered a cardiac arrhythmia attack.

“This is a special thing for me because my good friend Abdelhak Nouri… maybe you know the story," the Dutchman told United's official site.

"He had a heart attack and he’s a good friend of mine, and I’m really close with his family and his brother is one of my best friends, and I talk a lot with them. So I decided to take his old number on my shirt. I want to get good memories with this number.”


Dean Henderson was the club's No.34 but has allowed his new teammate to take the shirt.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9_genO_CKI


https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/van-de-beek-shirt-number-18869275.amp