Ismael Saibari has revealed his close friendship with Abdelhak Nouri and the meaning behind his shirt number 34 at FC Bayern Munich in an emotional interview. The 25-year-old attacking player, who joined from PSV Eindhoven for approximately 50 million euros after the World Cup, spoke exclusively to the club magazine '51', as reported by Bild Sport.
Why does Saibari wear number 34?
Saibari left the decision about his jersey number at Bayern to his friend Abdelhak Nouri. "I left it to him to decide which shirt number I should wear at Bayern. He chose 34, so I stuck with it," Saibari said. Nouri wore 34 at Ajax Amsterdam before suffering a cardiac arrest during a friendly match against Werder Bremen in summer 2017. The 29-year-old has since suffered severe, permanent brain damage and requires intensive care. Saibari has worn the number as a tribute since 2023 at PSV.
The two families have grown close through Saibari's agent Ali Dursun, who works with Nouri's brother. They even vacation together. Saibari's visits to Nouri are also a matter of faith for him. He has discussed these regular meetings with his mother and sees them as part of his Islamic practice.
How does Nouri communicate today?
Nouri can no longer speak but communicates through eyebrow movements. During a visit, Saibari clearly observed Nouri's happiness about his move to the record champions. "What happened to Abdelhak simply tears my heart apart," Saibari described his feelings. After the cardiac arrest, Nouri was resuscitated and transported by rescue helicopter to a hospital. Despite family reports of progress, he cannot move independently and remains dependent on care.
Saibari's Bundesliga debut was outstanding. In the 5-1 win against VfB Stuttgart last Friday, he came on as a substitute and provided two assists. He received the top grade of 1 in BILD's rating. His next chance to play for Bayern comes on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in the away match against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The current lineup and all further fixtures can be viewed on our squad page and in the fixtures list.
How did the move to Bayern come about?
During the Champions League semifinal between Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain, Saibari's agent asked him which club he would choose if either approached him. Saibari immediately answered Bayern. The first leg ended 4-5, the second leg 1-1. The attacking player is one of several new signings intended to strengthen the squad this season. The current Bundesliga table shows FC Bayern in one of the top positions, as can be seen on our standings page.
Saibari's contract at Bayern Munich runs until the summer of 2030. His personal statistics and those of the entire team are available on our stats page. He will wear the number 34 in every one of those matches, as a constant reminder of a friendship that goes beyond football.
