Ismael Saibari has revealed the deeply personal story behind his decision to wear number 34 at Bayern Munich, with Abdelhak Nouri himself choosing the number for him (as captured by @iMiaSanMia):
Ismael Saibari on his connection with Abdelhak Nouri and picking the number 34: “What happened to Abdelhak just breaks my heart. I’ve talked about it a lot with my mum, and visiting people who are ill is also part of my religion, Islam. The connection to Abdelhak’s family came about through my agent. He works with Abdelhak’s brother. The relationship has grown closer day by day, including between the families. We even go on holiday together. When I see Abdelhak, we always have a great time. It’s a lovely thought for me that this joy might perhaps help improve his condition. Abdelhak can’t speak, of course. He communicates with his eyebrows, and it was very clear to see just how happy he was for me. I also left it up to him to decide which shirt number I’d wear at Bayern. He chose 34, so that’s the one I went for” [Säbener 51]
Saibari, who joined Bayern from PSV Eindhoven this summer, developed a close relationship with Nouri and his family despite not knowing the former Ajax midfielder before his collapse during a preseason match in 2017. The connection came through Saibari’s agent, who works with Nouri’s brother.
That relationship has grown well beyond football. Saibari explained that the families have become close, even going on vacation together, and that he regularly visits Nouri.
“What happened to Abdelhak just breaks my heart,” Saibari told Bayern’s club magazine, Säbener 51. He also explained that visiting people who are ill is part of his Islamic faith and that he hopes the joy Nouri experiences during their visits can perhaps help improve his condition.
Nouri cannot speak and communicates with his eyebrows, but Saibari said it was obvious how happy his friend was when he learned about the move to Bayern.
Saibari also gave Nouri the final say over which number he would wear in Munich. Nouri chose 34, the number he had worn at Ajax, and Saibari accepted his choice. Bayern previously confirmed that the Moroccan chose the number as a tribute to his friend.
Now, every time Saibari steps onto the pitch wearing Number 34, there is a story behind the jersey that goes far beyond football.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- New, improved notifications system!
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
