Assahafa.com
Moroccan international Ismael Saibari continues to confirm his immense potential by establishing himself at the highest level, both with PSV Eindhoven and the Atlas Lions, Spanish sports daily Marca reported in its Thursday edition.
The newspaper highlighted the versatility of the Moroccan attacking midfielder, who is capable of playing in several midfield and attacking positions. It particularly pointed to his standout performance in Morocco’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Brazil national football team, during which he found the back of the net and played a decisive role throughout the game.
Saibari opened the scoring by using his pace to outmaneuver the Brazilian defense before lofting the ball over goalkeeper Alisson Becker, the publication noted, adding that beyond his goal, he impressed with the quality of his movement, his ability to play with his back to goal, and his defensive contribution throughout the match.
The newspaper also retraced the player’s rise through the ranks, notably at KRC Genk, before joining the PSV Eindhoven reserve team in 2020 and later being promoted to the first team by coach Roger Schmidt. Under the guidance of Ruud van Nistelrooy and subsequently Peter Bosz, he reached a new level, compiling an impressive tally of 19 goals and nine assists in 37 matches.
Quoted by Marca, former PSV assistant coach Javier Rabanal praised Saibari’s qualities, describing him as “a top-level player” capable of combining power, creativity, changes of pace, and clinical finishing.
Emphasizing the player’s ability to operate centrally, on the wings, or as a forward, Rabanal highlighted the Moroccan international’s considerable room for improvement, noting that “we have not yet seen the best version of him.”
Source: map
