“He’s all fired up”: That’s how Kompany convinced Bayern to sign Saibari | OneFootball

According to multiple reports, Ismael Saibari’s transfer to FC Bayern is now official. However, there is much more to the move than just successful negotiations between the clubs. According to information from the Bayern Insider podcast, Vincent Kompany played a key role in signing the Moroccan player.

Ismael Saibari had been considered one of FC Bayern’s top transfer targets for weeks. The Munich club has successfully finalized the transfer of the 25-year-old and agreed with PSV Eindhoven on a transfer fee of up to 55 million euros.

As has now come to light, however, the story behind this transfer began much earlier than previously known.

According to information from the BILD podcast “Bayern Insider,” the first direct contact between Vincent Kompany and Saibari took place as early as last season—on a very special day for the Moroccan.

Kompany sought a conversation after the PSV game

During the Champions League match between FC Bayern and PSV Eindhoven in late January 2026, Kompany took the opportunity to approach Saibari in person.

After the game, the Bayern coach pulled the attacking midfielder aside and first congratulated him on his birthday. A conversation then ensued that apparently left a lasting impression.

What’s particularly noteworthy: Kompany didn’t just rave about the midfielder’s offensive qualities. Rather, the Belgian was especially impressed by his work off the ball. It was precisely this complete package that made Saibari so interesting to the Bayern coach.

Kompany was instrumental in the deal

In recent weeks, communication between the two sides continued to intensify. According to information from BILD, Kompany played a central role in the decisive phase of the negotiations. The 40-year-old explained to Saibari in detail why his playing style was a perfect fit for FC Bayern and what role he could take on in Munich in the future.

It was precisely this clear athletic outlook that is said to have convinced the Moroccan national team player once and for all.

The Bayern coach sees Saibari as a versatile attacking player who can be deployed in multiple positions and, at the same time, brings exactly the intensity in defense that Kompany demands from his players.

Saibari was quickly convinced

Photo: IMAGO

The talks clearly had the desired effect. According to BILD, Saibari was very quickly enthusiastic about a move to the German record champions following his conversation with Kompany.

The 25-year-old is said to be absolutely “all in” on the Bayern project and reportedly signaled early on that Munich is his clear priority.

This endorsement made further discussions considerably easier for the club’s leadership, led by Max Eberl.

It comes as no surprise that Kompany pushed so hard for Saibari. The Moroccan combines several qualities that fit perfectly with the Bayern coach’s style of play. In addition to his creativity and goal-scoring threat, he impresses above all with his work rate, physical presence, and aggressive pressing.

It is precisely this combination that made him one of the most exciting players on the market for Kompany.

Thanks to his versatility, Saibari can be deployed both in attacking midfield and in several positions on the offensive end. At the same time, he’s willing to work consistently without the ball—an aspect that Kompany values particularly highly within the club.