Ismael Saibari reveals the Bayern Munich scale that left him astonished

Ismael Saibari says Bayern Munich has proved to be even bigger than he expected since his move to the German club, while the beauty of Munich has also surprised him during his first weeks in the country.

The Morocco international, who recently joined Bayern, said his view of the Bundesliga giants changed once he became part of the club rather than simply observing it from outside.

“People’s prevailing view was that Bayern is one of the biggest clubs in the world,” Saibari told the Bundesliga’s English-language channel, Bundesliga EN.

“But when you are part of it, you see how huge it really is. It was even bigger than I expected, because everything here is at the highest level, from the smallest details to the biggest ones. I expected the club to be big, but it is bigger than I thought.”

Saibari has also spoken positively about the welcome he has received from his new team-mates and Bayern’s coaching staff.

“Everyone has been very kind to me. The coaching staff and the players helped me feel welcome. I feel at home here, so I am very happy,” he said.

The player, formerly of PSV Eindhoven, added that Munich itself had been the biggest surprise of his new life in Germany.

“I think the biggest surprise was the city, Munich, because people outside Germany think Germany is very grey and not that beautiful. But I really like Munich as a city. I think that was the biggest surprise.”

Saibari enjoyed a strong campaign with PSV Eindhoven last season before attracting further attention with Morocco at the 2026 World Cup.

Morocco, known as the Atlas Lions, reached the quarter-finals of the tournament but were eliminated by France.

His early comments underline the scale of the challenge and opportunity awaiting him at Bayern, where the club’s standards have made a particularly strong impression from the outset. Rather than being surprised only by the stature associated with Bayern’s name, Saibari said the club’s organisation and attention to detail had demonstrated its size in everyday life.

At the same time, his reaction to Munich has challenged the image of Germany he had previously encountered from abroad. Saibari said the city’s character and appearance did not match the grey impression often associated with the country.

The Morocco player’s first impressions therefore combine admiration for Bayern’s infrastructure and standards with an unexpectedly warm response to his new surroundings. He says the welcome from the squad and coaching staff has helped him settle quickly, leaving him feeling comfortable at the club despite the considerable step up in profile.

The comments came in an interview with Bundesliga EN, in which Saibari reflected on both Bayern’s standing in world football and his adjustment to life in Germany.