Football Presse

Saibari set for Bayern Supercup debut against Dortmund, says Kompany

ยทBy Paul Lindisfarne
Share
Saibari set for Bayern Supercup debut against Dortmund, says Kompany

Bayern Munich

Ismael Saibari is set to feature for Bayern Munich in Saturday's Supercup against Borussia Dortmund, head coach Vincent Kompany has confirmed.

The Moroccan midfielder, signed from PSV Eindhoven for a reported โ‚ฌ50m, is being eased back into contention after a recent injury but remains a key figure in Kompany's plans.

"Isi has so much power, speed and is good in front of goal," Kompany said. "It's important that his relationship with his teammates develops. He'll play a role tomorrow.

"He's coming back from an injury, so we're keeping an eye on his minutes. He'll play an important role for us."

Saibari's arrival was one of the standout deals of Bayern Munich's summer, closing a deal that had been in the works since the early stages of the transfer window. He impressed at this year's World Cup with Morocco, a display that Kompany has previously credited with cementing his own conviction that the 25-year-old could slot straight into the squad.

Saturday's Franz Beckenbauer Supercup against Borussia Dortmund is likely to give the club's fans their first competitive look at him in Bayern colours, with the German champions hoping his versatility across midfield and attack adds another dimension to a squad already stacked with attacking talent.

Saibari joins Bayern on a five-year deal running until 2031, having scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in his final Eredivisie season with PSV, form that helped the Dutch club win the title by a 19-point margin.

His signing continues a run of Bayern moves for players fresh off standout international tournaments, a strategy sporting director Max Eberl has previously said reflects long-term planning rather than opportunism. Saturday's fixture will offer an early gauge of how quickly he can adapt to a Bundesliga title challenge under Kompany.