Bayern Munich’s Ismael Saibari opens up on family sacrifice and move from PSV Eindhoven

Ismael Saibari has described the sacrifices made by his parents after he was born with problems affecting his feet, as the new Bayern Munich signing outlined the personal journey behind his arrival at the German club.

The Morocco international, who joined Bayern Munich from PSV Eindhoven two weeks ago, was officially presented as a new player on Friday. However, a muscle injury suffered while representing Morocco at the World Cup delayed his involvement in full team training.

Saibari, 25, had been working individually during his first days at the club before returning to collective sessions this week. He is now beginning the next stage of his Bayern Munich career on the pitch.

“My team-mates welcomed me warmly, and everyone has been kind to me, including the coaching staff,” Saibari said. “I recovered well, and I am now fully integrated into team training.”

The midfielder attracted widespread attention during his performances for Morocco at the World Cup, but Bayern Munich’s decision to pursue him was not based solely on his displays at the tournament. The club had been monitoring him for some time.

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said the German champions already knew about Saibari’s qualities before the World Cup, while a meeting with PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League strengthened their belief that he could succeed at the club.

“We had known Ismael for some time, but the decisive moment that convinced us he was the right player for Bayern Munich came in the match against PSV Eindhoven,” Eberl said.

Saibari scored PSV Eindhoven’s goal in their 2-1 Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich in January. His influence went beyond finding the net, however, with his performance creating a strong impression among Bayern’s officials.

“With his style, his physical strength, his imposing presence, his speed and his versatility, he caused us a lot of problems,” Eberl added. “He has exceptional talent.”

Bayern continued to follow Saibari’s progress closely before deciding to make their move, particularly as the club looked to expand its attacking options.

“We monitored the situation closely, and at some point it became clear that we wanted to strengthen the attacking side,” Eberl said. “Ismael was one of our leading candidates and, thankfully, everything worked out well.”

Eberl said the signing of Saibari, alongside Nathaniel Brown, reflected Bayern’s desire to recruit players capable of operating in several positions. The club believes such tactical flexibility can add new dimensions to its football.

“Our aim is to focus on flexibility and choose players who can occupy different positions and add a new dimension to our style of play, something we perhaps lacked last season,” he said.

Saibari said he felt comfortable with the idea of joining Bayern Munich from the outset and believes the club provides the ideal environment for his development.

“Bayern Munich are one of the biggest clubs in the world,” he said. “They gave me the confidence that I can develop here as a player and as a person.”

He also praised the style adopted by Vincent Kompany, saying the Belgian manager’s approach suits both his abilities and his ambitions.

“They play with a lot of movement and high intensity,” Saibari said. “I experienced that myself in the matches last season. They play fantastic football, it is always exciting, and they are always looking for chances to score. That is what I really like.”

During his presentation, Saibari also spoke about the central role his parents have played in his life and career. He revealed that he had experienced problems with his feet from birth.

“I had problems with my feet when I was born,” he said. “My parents made many sacrifices so that I could walk properly and live a normal life. I am extremely grateful to them. I am also a committed Muslim, I believe in God, and I believe this was part of His plan.”

Saibari speaks English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Dutch. He is now aiming to learn German as quickly as possible while seeking to make a lasting impression during his new chapter with Bayern Munich.