Ismael Saibari lets Abdelhak Nouri choose his Bayern Munich shirt number

Ismael Saibari has revealed that his Bayern Munich shirt number is a tribute to former Ajax player and fellow Moroccan Abdelhak Nouri.

The Morocco international will wear number 34, the same number Nouri used during his time with Ajax, after asking his friend to choose it for him.

Saibari said the decision was driven by the close relationship he has developed with Nouri and his family, as well as the lasting pain caused by what happened to the former Ajax midfielder during a friendly match in 2017.

Speaking to Bayern Munich’s official website, Saibari said: “What happened to Abdelhak breaks my heart. I talked about it a lot with my mother, and visiting sick people is also part of my religion, Islam.”

Saibari explained that his connection with Nouri’s family began through his agent, who also works with Nouri’s brother. Their relationship gradually became stronger, eventually bringing the two families close together.

“The relationship became closer day by day, even between the two families. We go on holiday together,” Saibari said.

The Bayern player also described the positive emotions he experiences when he visits Nouri.

“When I see Abdelhak, we always have a great time. It is a beautiful thought for me that this happiness might perhaps help improve his condition,” he added.

Nouri is unable to speak, but Saibari said he communicates through movements of his eyebrows. When Saibari told him that he was joining Bayern Munich, Nouri’s reaction was clear despite being unable to respond verbally.

Saibari said: “I also left it to him to choose the shirt number I would wear at Bayern Munich. He chose number 34, so I decided to wear it.”

The number has a deep personal meaning for Nouri because it was part of his identity during his Ajax career. Saibari has now taken that memory with him to Bayern Munich, turning his first shirt-number decision at the German club into a gesture of loyalty to his friend.

The choice also reflects the bond that has grown between Saibari, Nouri and their families over several years. Rather than selecting a number for sporting reasons, Saibari chose to preserve a link with Nouri’s Ajax past and give him a role in his new chapter at Bayern Munich.

Saibari’s comments underline how significant the friendship has become. His visits to Nouri are intended to bring moments of happiness, while the number 34 provides a continuing reminder of the connection between them.

For Saibari, the shirt is therefore more than part of his new Bayern Munich kit. It carries a personal story built around friendship, family and a shared Moroccan background, while honouring the number Nouri once wore at Ajax.