Moroccan star Ismael Saibari, who recently joined German giants Bayern Munich, is hoping to make his first appearance for the Bavarian club when they face RB Leipzig in a friendly on Saturday, following his recovery from injury and return to full team training.
Speaking during his official presentation as a new Bayern player on Friday, Saibari said he was feeling good after completing his recovery and praised his new teammates and the coaching staff for helping him settle in quickly.
The Moroccan international said he received a warm welcome from his teammates and that everyone had treated him kindly since his arrival. He also confirmed that he has now returned to full training with the squad.
Bayern Had Been Tracking Saibari Before the World Cup
Saibari attracted the attention of several major European clubs after producing impressive performances for Morocco at the World Cup. However, Bayern Munich had been monitoring the midfielder long before the tournament.
The German champions completed his transfer from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven during the World Cup, where Saibari represented Morocco and made a strong impression by scoring three goals.
The player said he immediately felt that moving to Munich was the right decision for his career.
Bayern’s status as one of the world’s biggest clubs and the confidence the club showed in his abilities were among the main factors behind his decision.
Saibari believes the move will give him an opportunity to develop both as a footballer and as a person.
Saibari Impressed by Kompany’s Style
The Moroccan believes Bayern’s playing style under head coach Vincent Kompany suits his qualities particularly well.
He praised the team’s constant movement and high tempo, saying he had watched Bayern closely during the previous season and was impressed by the intensity of their matches.
Saibari also highlighted the club’s attacking approach, noting that Bayern consistently look to create chances and score goals.
The style is particularly appealing to him, and he is eager to adapt quickly and contribute to the team’s ambitions during the new season.
A Difficult Childhood That Shaped Saibari
During his presentation, Saibari also opened up about a deeply personal part of his life, highlighting the enormous role his parents played in his development.
The player revealed that he experienced problems with his feet from birth, forcing his family to make significant sacrifices to help him walk normally and live an ordinary life.
Saibari expressed his deep gratitude to his parents for everything they did for him. He also spoke openly about his faith, describing himself as a devout Muslim and saying that he believes in God and accepts what happened in his life as part of God’s will.
A Long Medical Journey From Birth
Ismael Saibari was born in 2001 in the Spanish city of Terrassa to a Moroccan family.
His early childhood was marked by a congenital condition affecting his feet. His feet were severely turned inward, leading doctors to warn his father that his chances of walking normally could be limited.
A long and demanding treatment journey followed.
As a child, Saibari underwent extensive treatment and used braces, orthopedic devices and specially designed medical shoes to correct the position of his legs and feet.
His family also endured frequent trips between doctors and treatment sessions, determined to help him overcome the condition and achieve a normal life.
Over the years, Saibari managed to overcome those challenges and eventually built a career in football that took him to the Moroccan national team and then to one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
A Five-Language Talent Learning German
Saibari’s talents extend beyond the football pitch. The Moroccan midfielder is also multilingual, speaking English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Dutch.
He is now hoping to learn German as quickly as possible as he adapts to life in Munich and his new surroundings.
After a journey that began with serious challenges during childhood and eventually led him to the Moroccan national team and Bayern Munich, Saibari is now ready to begin a new chapter of his career.
His potential appearance against Leipzig could provide the first opportunity for the Moroccan star to officially showcase his abilities in Bayern’s colors.
