Ismael Saibari is on the verge of making his first competitive appearance for FC Bayern. The 25-year-old could make his debut for the German record champions in the Super Cup against Borussia Dortmund—and Vincent Kompany is already making it clear just how much he values his new signing.
Munich paid PSV Eindhoven around 50 million euros this summer. Expectations for the Moroccan national team player are correspondingly high. However, Kompany sees Saibari not just as a short-term reinforcement, but apparently as an important part of his plans.
“Ismael Saibari has so much power, speed, and is a good finisher,” Kompany explained ahead of the Super Cup. In doing so, the Bayern coach highlighted several qualities that make Saibari an attractive prospect for Munich’s offensive play.
His dynamism in particular could open up additional opportunities for the record champions. Saibari can play in the center of the attack as well as on the wings. At his official introduction, the new signing stated that his favorite position is the number 10.
He’s likely to be an option exactly there against Dortmund. With Jamal Musiala out, Saibari could immediately take on an important role and make his competitive debut.
Bayern isn’t taking any risks with his playing time
However, it remains to be seen how long Saibari will be able to stay on the field against BVB. The attacking player is just returning from an injury: Saibari suffered a torn muscle fiber during the World Cup this summer. Kompany therefore apparently wants to closely monitor how the newcomer’s body reacts to the physical demands of the game.
“He’ll play a role tomorrow. He’s coming off an injury, so we’ll see how it goes in terms of playing time,” explained the Bayern coach.
This means Saibari is likely to make his competitive debut, but a longer stint on the field isn’t guaranteed. For Kompany, the priority for now is to carefully integrate the 25-year-old into the team.
„He’ll play an important role for us.“
Despite the lingering questions about his durability, Kompany left no doubt about the long-term expectations: “It’s important that he builds a relationship with his teammates. He’ll play an important role for us,” the Belgian emphasized.
For Saibari, this means his first big stage will be against Dortmund, of all teams. After his injury and his move from Eindhoven, he could immediately show why Bayern was willing to invest a hefty transfer fee in him.
The Super Cup is thus likely to be not only Bayern’s first official match but also an important litmus test for Saibari. Kompany has already made it clear: The Moroccan is expected to be much more than just a backup for the record champions.