Ismael Saibari is on the verge of joining FC Bayern. He celebrates his goals in a unique way. Here’s the story behind it.
FC Bayern will soon announce Ismael Saibari as a new signing. The PSV Eindhoven forward has apparently already passed his physical, and the official announcement is now just a formality.
On the field, the 25-year-old most recently made headlines at the World Cup. His dream goal in Morocco’s 1-1 draw against Brazil, in particular, drew worldwide attention to him. Many fans also noticed his unusual goal celebration.
After scoring, Saibari regularly mimics the motion of washing his hair. What appears at first glance to be a spontaneous gesture actually has a very personal background.
As reported by Sport BILD, the future Bayern Munich pro dedicates this celebration to his cousin, who lives in Tangier. The gesture recalls shared experiences from their youth in Morocco.
Saibari is considered a very family-oriented person and remains in close contact with his relatives to this day.
Memories of vacations together in Morocco
The origin of the celebration goes back many years. During their vacations together, Saibari and his cousin spent a lot of time on the beaches of Morocco.
Before heading home after a long day at the beach, they had a set routine: the two would regularly rinse off on the beach to get the sand out of their hair.
It is precisely these moments that Saibari recalls today with his goal celebration.
After weeks of negotiations, FC Bayern reached a transfer agreement with PSV Eindhoven. The transfer fee is reported to be around 55 million euros, including bonus payments. Saibari is reportedly signing a contract through 2031.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany played a decisive role in the deal. The Belgian held personal conversations with the Moroccan national team player over the course of several months and convinced him early on to make the move to Munich.
Saibari is therefore expected to officially don the FC Bayern jersey very soon. Bayern fans may then get to see his distinctive celebration gesture regularly at the Allianz Arena in the future.