Ismael Saibari has revealed that his decision to wear the number 34 shirt is a deeply personal tribute to his great friend Abdelhak Nouri. The former Ajax midfielder suffered a tragic illness during a friendly match against Werder Bremen in 2017, suffering permanent brain damage which abruptly ended his promising career. Explaining the emotional value of this choice, Saibari said: "He survived, but since then he has not been able to move independently. I support him by wearing 34, which was his last number." This gesture follows the homage already paid by several footballers across Europe, who over the years have chosen to wear this shirt to honor their bond with Nouri and keep his memory alive on the pitch. While on the one hand the number 34 has enormous emotional significance for Saibari, on the other it already boasts its own history within Säbener Strasse. In the past, at Bayern Munich, this shirt has been worn mainly by young talents as a launching pad before moving on to more traditional figures, including Sandro Wagner (2007/08), Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (2012-16), Marco Friedl (2016-18) and, more recently, Deniz Ofli (2025/26). Saibari, however, arrives in Bavaria as a high-profile signing set to slot straight into Vincent Kompany's starting eleven.
