Aston Villa's Moussa Diaby saved the day for a tearful young fan on Thursday night after the boy's handmade banner asking for the attacker's shirt was confiscated.
Before Villa played AZ Alkmaar in the Europa Conference League, a young fan hung a beautifully hand-crafted sign near to the touchline asking for the French winger's shirt.
However, due to a new rule in Dutch football where stadiums have banned fans from bringing in signs asking players for shirts, a steward walked over to the boy and took the banner away.
Left in tears, he was consoled by another steward as the sign was then thrown in the bin.
But, in a heartwarming gesture, the Birmingham-based club made sure the fan was granted his wish as Diaby gave him a hug at the full-time whistle and his shirt.
The boy can be seen with a beaming smile on his face as he poses for a picture alongside the Villa winger with his shirt.
Many football fans complained on social media that it was completely 'unnecessary' for the steward to throw the sign in the bin.
One person wrote on X: 'All the hours this kid have spent making it, looking forward and having his hopes up, brought the sign and then some man throw it in the bin.'
Another added: 'That’s unnecessary from the stewards to throw it in the bin.'
However, after the Villa star made it up to the kid, fans were delighted with one saying: 'Love this!' Another also added: 'Brilliant! Well done Villa.'
To add to Villa fans' joy, their side enjoyed a remarkable result last night against the Dutch team as they won 4-1 to go second in their group.
