Eindhoven’s technical director details how the German giants bypassed post-World Cup bidding wars, securing Morocco’s midfield sensation through decisive negotiations and a record-breaking valuation before the tournament.
PSV technical director Earnest Stewart has looked back on Ismael Saibari’s €55 million transfer to Bayern Munich, revealing that the German champions made their interest clear before the World Cup.
Saibari left Eindhoven after a standout season in which he became an important part of Peter Bosz’s team. His partnership with Guus Til was particularly effective, while the Morocco international also made a strong impression at the World Cup.
Bayern’s interest emerged before the tournament, with the Bundesliga giants keen to reach an agreement quickly.
“What’s good comes quickly. At a certain point ahead of the World Cup, we were told that Bayern Munich would be interested in Saibari. From what we could tell from them, they really wanted to close the deal before the World Cup,” Stewart said in PSV’s Here in the South series, as relayed by PSV Inside.
The transfer was eventually completed while Saibari was still involved at the World Cup. He scored the decisive penalty as Morocco eliminated the Netherlands in the round of 16, but his tournament ended prematurely against Canada due to an injury.
Morocco subsequently lost 2-0 to France in the quarter-finals.
![Saibari ultimately left PSV for €55m [REUTERS]](https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/42cf1c4c-e27a-4f5d-8cc9-af62c3631a8c.jpeg)
Saibari ultimately left PSV for €55m [REUTERS]For PSV, however, the negotiations with Bayern proved relatively straightforward. The German club was prepared to meet the Dutch champions’ asking price, allowing both sides to reach an agreement without prolonged discussions.
“In that regard, it were very harmonious talks and it didn’t take much time to get it done. Also the amount that we, as PSV, wanted, Bayern Munich also wanted to pay. Those were good talks.”
Stewart also highlighted the importance of completing the deal before the World Cup, as Saibari’s performances could have influenced the market further.
“And if it happens before the World Cup, then you can somewhat anticipate what the rest of the transfer window will look like.”
Saibari ultimately left PSV for €55m, bringing an end to his time in Eindhoven after establishing himself as one of the club’s key players and earning a major move to Bayern Munich.
