Uncertainty continues to surround Ismael Saibari. After the Bayern newcomer had to be substituted due to injury in the World Cup round of 16, there are conflicting reports regarding his possible participation in the quarterfinal against France.
Ismael Saibari’s injury is a concern not only for the Moroccan national team but also for FC Bayern. Just a few days ago, the 25-year-old signed a contract with the German record champions that runs through 2031. A fixed transfer fee of around 50 million euros will go to PSV Eindhoven, and the total could rise to as much as 55 million euros through bonus payments.
This makes the officials in Munich all the more keen to follow their new signing’s progress at the World Cup.
In the 3-0 win over Canada, Saibari had to be substituted after just 22 minutes due to injury. The Moroccan Football Federation has not yet released an official diagnosis.
New Concerns Ahead of the Match Against France
Most recently, the Moroccan newspaper Al Mountakhab reported that Saibari had suffered only a minor muscle strain. According to the report, the attacking player was undergoing a special rehabilitation program, and there was even optimism within the team that he might be able to play in the quarterfinal against France.
However, the latest developments paint a different picture.
According to reports from Morocco, Saibari missed team training on both Monday and Tuesday. The national team is currently preparing for the quarterfinal against France on Thursday (10 p.m.). In addition, the new Bayern signing is said to have undergone an MRI scan two days ago. However, the Moroccan Football Federation has not yet released the results. As a result, his availability for the match against France currently appears highly doubtful.
National team coach Mohamed Ouahbi had already emphasized after the round of 16 that no risks would be taken with injured players: “We don’t want to take any risks. It’s important to field players who are 100 percent fit, especially in these games where everything is on the line.”
For FC Bayern, the situation therefore remains unclear. As long as there is no official diagnosis, it is difficult to assess the actual extent of the injury. The only thing that is clear is that his chances of playing against France have recently dropped significantly.