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Former PSV player expects a lot from Ismael Saibari at the World Cup: “The national team coach must use him properly.”
Max de KokJune 6, 2026
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Former PSV player expects a lot from Ismael Saibari at the World Cup: “The national team coach must use him properly.”

1 min read

After a strong season at PSV, it is likely that Ismael Saibari will wear the FC Bayern München shirt after the World Cup. Earlier this week, news emerged that the record champions are keen to sign the midfielder and Saibari himself would already have reached an oral agreement with FC Bayern.

Now Saibari is gearing up with Morocco for the World Cup in North America. Former PSV footballer and youth coach Adil Ramzi also expects a lot from the midfielder during the World Cup.

This is what Ramzi says in conversation with journalist Marco Timmer of Voetbal International. ''He will take the next step in his career and at the World Cup, Saibari will have to make an impact,'' says the former PSV player to Timmer.

According to Ramzi, Saibari has not yet achieved the status that the midfielder has at PSV with the Moroccan national team, and he also hopes that the Moroccan national team coach will get the best out of the PSV player. ''Saibari is indeed among the top three most important players for the squad, along with Hakimi and Díaz, but the national team coach needs to use him properly. I worked with Saibari for a year at PSV; he is not a striker. Also not a false nine. Saibari is an attacking-minded midfielder, an eight or a ten'', said the former footballer.

According to Ramzi, Saibari as number 8 comes into his own best. ''I find him best at eight. With his face toward the goal and then with his enormous power dribble, pass, shoot and create. I will really keep a close eye on him during the World Cup,'' concludes the former footballer.

Comments10

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MAX21 min ago

"De bondscoach moet hem dan goed gaan gebruiken" Ja precies. Geef hem ruimte om te rijden, passen, schieten. Als ze hem als valse negen proberen, dan is het echt kapotmaker.

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PSV_Sven30 min ago

"de bondscoach moet hem dan goed gaan gebruiken" is gewoon het hele punt. Als ze hem te vaak breed zetten of achter een nummer 9 hangen, dan verdwijnt zijn waarde snel. Op 8 moet hij knallen, vooral in combinaties met Hakimi en Diaz.

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Sven V.42 min ago

Saibari als nummer 8 lijkt me echt zijn plek, zeker met die power dribbels en die creatieve passen. Hopelijk gebruikt Marokko hem niet te veel als soort valse negen.

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pieter19851 h ago

ik snap wel dat adil ramzi zegt dat hij geen spits is, maar bij marokko moet hij dan ook echt als 8 gebruikt worden. als ze hem te vaak laten inzakken of breed zetten, dan wordt die power dribbel z'n wapen minder. 👀

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Sven V.1 h ago

Ik snap Ramzi wel. Saibari is geen valse negen, maar een aanvallende middenvelder. Als de bondscoach hem als acht gebruikt, kan hij dortmund-achtige diepgang geven met dat power dribbelen.

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Sven V.1 h ago

I kinda get the Bayern link, but i hate the idea that he will just be "another 8" in Germany. If Marokko coaches him like at PSV, with shots, passes and creating from that pocket, he can absolutely take over a game. W he's gonna be compared to Hakimi and Diaz already...

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marieke_v1 h ago

De bondscoach moet hem goed gaan gebruiken, en daar gaat het denk ik mis bij Marokko soms. Als ze hem te breed of te diep zetten, wordt zijn power minder gevaarlijk. Saibari op 8 = banger. 🔥

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Sven V.1 h ago

If Bayern actually gets him, I just hope PSV cashes the right amount. Saibari on an 8 role sounds perfect, but only if the coach gives him the ball facing goal.

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marieke_v1 h ago

Ngl als Bayern hem echt wil, dan moet Saibari op het WK vooral als nummer 8 staan. Van "geen spits" naar toch die rol bij Bayern zou echt zonde zijn.

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PSV_Sven1 h ago

If Bayern get Saibari, i swear it better be based on the 8 role. Ramzi is spot on, he is not a striker or "valse negen", he needs to face the goal and take space with those dribbles. 👀