Dropped for weight, battling to walk : The resilience of football star Ismael Saibari

Ya Biladi

21-05-2025

Moroccan international Ismael Saibari is finally reaping the rewards of his hard work. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder recently clinched the Eredivisie title with his club, PSV Eindhoven, following a 3–1 victory over Sparta Rotterdam. He ended the 2024–25 season with an impressive tally of 11 goals and 11 assists.
His stellar performance has made him one of the standout players in Dutch football and earned him a nomination for Player of the Year. Saibari is also attracting interest from several clubs, which could see him leave PSV this summer.
But before reaching this level, Saibari—born in Spain to a humble Moroccan family—had to overcome many challenges to make it to the spotlight and fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a professional footballer.
Struggling to make his first steps
In a candid interview with Swedish sports media outlet Wenström Television, Saibari recalled his early struggles—ones that had little to do with football and more with learning to walk.
Saibari struggled to take his first steps at the age of two due to a congenital condition. «Maybe I couldn't walk properly for the rest of my life», he recalled. «But we are Muslims, and we really believe in God, so my mother just prayed for me—that I could just have a normal life, you know».
To correct the condition, Saibari had to wear a special orthopedic device for over a year to keep his feet straight and help him walk. «It wasn't even about becoming a football player or anything like that», he said. «That machine helped. It's a sort of device that helps little babies walk straight. And yeah, luckily, it worked».
His love for football was tested early on. At six, Saibari began playing for a local club in Terrassa, in central-eastern Catalonia, with hopes of one day joining FC Barcelona's famed youth academy. But that dream was cut short by the 2007 economic crisis, which forced his parents to leave Spain and move to Belgium. «They moved to work and give us a better future», he explained.
Dropped for being «too fat»
In Belgium, Saibari never gave up on his dream. He played for several clubs, including Beerschot in Antwerp and RSC Anderlecht. But at 14, while at Anderlecht, he was unexpectedly released for a reason he still doesn't fully understand.
«They told me I was too fat», he said. «I was playing well. I was in a good moment. It was an honor to play there. Then, just one day before the new season started, I got the news. It was really painful».
Despite the setback, Saibari had unwavering support from his family. «My parents were there for me. They motivated me and said, 'Look, these are the things that happen in life. You have two choices: either you give up, or you work towards your goal and become a football player.' So I chose the second one».
Looking back, Saibari is grateful he stayed the course. One key lesson he draws from his journey is that «sometimes there won't be justice—move on and keep working».
He also remembers a moment of poetic justice. While playing for Genk between 2017 and 2020, he recalled, «I scored a beautiful goal, we won that game 4-3, and became champions against Anderlecht».
Looking ahead, Saibari dreams of achieving future glory with Morocco's national team, the Atlas Lions. When asked what headline he would most love to see written about him one day, he answered: «Ismael Saibari scores the winner in the World Cup final». «Always dream big», he concluded.