This summer, Ismael Saibari transferred from PSV Eindhoven to FC Bayern. The Moroccan attacking midfielder cost around 50 million euros and made an immediate impact in his very first Bundesliga game with two assists.
Saibari had already caught FC Bayern’s attention last season, not just in their head-to-head matchup in the Champions League, when he scored a goal against the record champions.
The Moroccan has been warmly welcomed in Munich and has already mentioned, in the lead-up to his first competitive matches, that he feels right at home.
Saibari talks about integration at FC Bayern
In an interview with the club’s member magazine “51,” Saibari explained what has impressed him since his arrival at Bayern. “I feel very welcome. After practice, there are always lots of fans waiting to get an autograph or take a photo. I think that’s cool. You can really feel how important FC Bayern is to so many people. It’s a great club—everyone knows that. But it’s only once you’re part of it that you realize just how big the club really is,” said the Moroccan.
Saibari is particularly impressed by the smooth operations and excellent organization: “Just the way everything is organized and perfectly prepared—the players’ area, the food, the medical care, everything. In training, you really feel the intensity; you see the quality of the players, how quickly they think, how quickly they react. It’s totally thrilling. And you only realize all of that once you’re part of it.”
For the Moroccan, the focus now is on getting 100% fit. He sustained a muscle injury during the World Cup that’s still bothering him a bit. The versatile offensive player is ready to play, but he’s still a little short of being a consistent option for the starting lineup.