FC Bayern will have to do without Ismael Saibari in the coming months. The Moroccan attacking midfielder suffered a torn syndesmotic ligament in his right ankle during the 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund and has already undergone successful surgery. Now the 25-year-old has spoken out for the first time—and sent an optimistic message to Bayern fans.
On Sunday afternoon, Saibari posted a photo from the hospital on Instagram. In it, the attacking player can be seen smiling in his hospital bed. Despite the serious injury, the summer signing doesn’t seem to have lost his optimism.
“The surgery went well! Time to get to work. See you on the field as soon as possible,” Saibari wrote in his post. This marks the beginning of a lengthy rehabilitation period for the Moroccan. A quick return to the field is out of the question.
Saibari faces at least a three-month layoff
As reported by BILD, Saibari can expect to be sidelined for at least three months following his surgery. This means the 25-year-old is likely to be out for the German record champions well into the new year.
The attacking midfielder sustained the injury on Saturday evening during the Bundesliga classic against Borussia Dortmund. After a big scoring chance, Saibari went head-to-head with BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and twisted his right ankle while battling for the rebound.
It was immediately apparent that the Moroccan had suffered a serious injury. Saibari could no longer put weight on his foot and had to be supported by the Munich medical staff.
He was finally substituted in the 29th minute. After the final whistle, the forward left the Allianz Arena on crutches.
FC Bayern confirmed the diagnosis as early as Sunday and announced that Saibari had undergone successful surgery.
Gnabry will also be sidelined for several weeks
It was particularly bitter for the Munich team: Just a few minutes after Saibari, Serge Gnabry also had to be substituted due to injury.
The 31-year-old suffered a muscle injury in the back of his left thigh. According to BILD, the German national team player is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks.
This significantly exacerbates the already tight personnel situation in Bayern’s offense. Jamal Musiala and Luis Díaz are already sidelined due to injuries. There’s also still a question mark over Michael Olise’s availability following his knee problems.
This makes putting together the offensive lineup a challenge for interim coach Aaron Danks. Munich is set to face Atlético Madrid on the road in the Champions League as early as Tuesday.