“I hated it…”: Bayern’s new signing Saibari reveals the secret to his success | OneFootball

Ismael Saibari is one of FC Bayern’s most exciting new signings. Behind the Moroccan national team player’s rise to the top, however, lies an extraordinary story. In the club’s own magazine, 51, the 25-year-old looks back on a childhood filled with hard extra work, setbacks, and health problems.

The fact that Saibari is now regarded as a technically skilled and goal-scoring forward is clearly no coincidence. His father, Hassan, made it a priority from an early age to ensure that his son didn’t rely solely on his strong right foot.

After every regular training session, the current Bayern pro therefore had to take between 50 and 60 shots every day using only his left foot. “At first, I hated it,” Saibari recalls in Bayern Magazine 51. While his teammates were long on their way home, his extra training session often wasn’t even starting yet.

Today, the forward views that time in a completely different light: “In the end, it paid off.”

Setbacks shaped the Bayern newcomer

However, the daily extra training sessions were only part of his unusual career path. Saibari had to cope with a major setback right from birth. The Moroccan was born with a pronounced deformity in both feet. According to the report, doctors even doubted whether he would ever be able to walk normally.

The 25-year-old also had to overcome obstacles on his path to professional soccer. At the historic Belgian club RSC Anderlecht, Saibari was cut because the club’s officials didn’t consider him physically capable enough to perform at a high level.

Ironically, his physicality is now one of his greatest strengths. The 1.85-meter-tall attacking player combines dynamism, toughness, and technical skill at the highest level and can play in multiple positions on the attack.

Kompany played a decisive role

Photo: IMAGO

It was precisely this profile that convinced the FC Bayern management of Saibari’s merits. The Moroccan national team player signed a contract in Munich running through 2031 and is considered Vincent Kompany’s top transfer target.

According to Saibari himself, the Bayern coach played a decisive role in his decision to join the club.

Former teammates also rave about the new signing’s qualities. Former Bayern defender Medhi Benatia particularly praised Saibari’s speed, his technique, and his ability to make an impact even under pressure. His former coach, Kevin Van Dessel, described him as a modern “nine-and-a-half” who both creates depth in attack and works hard defensively.

In addition to his athletic abilities, Saibari also brings excellent qualities off the field. The attacking player already speaks five languages and now wants to learn German as well.

His career path clearly shows that his journey to FC Bayern was anything but straightforward. From a congenital foot deformity to daily extra training sessions with his father to being released by Anderlecht, Saibari had to overcome numerous hurdles. Yet it is precisely these experiences that seem to have shaped him into the player FC Bayern has signed today.