English Premier League
Ismael Saibari reveals remarkable journey after Bayern Munich move
Ismael Saibari has made his return to full training at Bayern Munich after revealing that he was born with problems affecting both feet and crediting his parents’ sacrifices for helping him walk normally and live a regular life.
The 25-year-old Morocco international joined Bayern Munich from PSV Eindhoven two weeks ago, but a muscle injury sustained while representing Morocco at the World Cup delayed his involvement with his new team.
Saibari had been working individually during his recovery before joining Bayern’s squad training this week. He was officially presented as a new player on Friday and said he had quickly settled into life at the German club.
“My team-mates welcomed me warmly, everyone is kind to me, including the coaching staff,” Saibari said. “I have recovered well and I am now fully integrated into team training.”
The midfielder attracted widespread attention during Morocco’s World Cup campaign, although his performances at the tournament were not the sole reason for Bayern’s interest. The club had been monitoring him for some time before deciding to make a move.
Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said the club’s conviction was strengthened by a meeting with PSV in the Champions League.
“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 contribution went beyond finding the net, however, with his overall display impressing the Bayern hierarchy.
“With his style, physical strength, imposing presence, speed and versatility, he caused us a lot of problems,” Eberl added. “He has exceptional talent.”
Bayern continued to follow Saibari’s development closely before making their move, with the club looking to expand its attacking options.
“We monitored the situation carefully and, at a certain point, it became clear that we wanted to strengthen our attack,” Eberl said. “Ismael was one of our leading candidates and, thankfully, everything worked out well.”
Eberl said the signings of Saibari and Nathaniel Brown reflected Bayern’s desire to recruit players capable of operating in several positions. The club is seeking greater tactical flexibility after identifying a lack of that quality in the previous season.
“Our aim is to focus on flexibility and choose players who can play in different positions and add a new dimension to our style of football, something we perhaps lacked last season,” he said.
Saibari said he had felt comfortable with the idea of joining Bayern Munich from the outset and believed the club offered the ideal environment for his continued progress.
“Bayern Munich are one of the biggest clubs in the world,” he said. “They gave me the confidence that I can develop here as both a player and a person.”
He also praised the approach under Belgian manager Vincent Kompany, saying the team’s high-intensity, attacking football suited his abilities and ambitions.
“They play with a lot of movement and great intensity,” Saibari said. “I experienced that myself in last season’s matches. They play wonderful football, it is always exciting and they are always looking for chances to score. That is what I really like.”
During his presentation, Saibari spoke about the influence of his parents, who he said had made major sacrifices because of the difficulties he faced from birth.
“I had problems with my feet when I was born,” he said. “My parents sacrificed a great deal 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 also aiming to learn German as quickly as possible while beginning his attempt to make a lasting impression at Bayern Munich.