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Ismael Saibari has entered a special rehabilitation program with PSV Eindhoven as the Dutch champions carefully manage his fitness ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The Moroccan international was recently sidelined after experiencing physical discomfort toward the end of last month, notably missing the match against FC Zwolle. This led the club to temporarily withdraw him from matchday squads while more medical assessments were made to determine the exact nature of the issue.
PSV head coach Peter Bosz quickly downplayed fears of a serious injury, stressing that the situation is being handled with precaution rather than urgency.
Bosz indicated there is “no danger” regarding Saibari’s World Cup presence, reinforcing confidence in his recovery timeline. However, more recent internal reports suggest the midfielder could miss the remainder of the Eredivisie season to fully focus on rehabilitation.
Sources around the club suggest that Saibari’s current program is focused on managing workload after a demanding season, addressing minor muscular discomfort and ensuring peak condition for international duty
This has been PSV’s strategy this season, where the club has repeatedly opted to rest and protect their important players rather than risk aggravating injuries.
A crucial season for club and country
The timing of this rehabilitation is particularly meaningful. Saibari has been one of PSV’s best performers during their title-winning season, playing a decisive role in securing the club’s 27th Dutch league title early in April.
He had enjoyed a great individual season before this setback, registering 15 goals and 5 assists in the Eredivisie while proving his importance in Bosz’s attacking system.
At just 23, Saibari has also cemented his role with the Moroccan national team, becoming a key figure for the Atlas Lions.
PSV’s medical and coaching staff appear to be prioritizing long-term fitness over short-term availability. The decision to potentially rule him out for the rest of the domestic season has one objective: ensuring he reaches the World Cup at full capacity.
So this latest rehabilitation phase is less about recovery from a major injury and more about fine-tuning physical condition, preventing overload and preserving explosiveness and endurance
National team coach Mohamed Ouahbi could be counting heavily on Saibari, who has grown into a central piece of Morocco’s midfield setup.
His importance was obvious during the 2025 AFCON, even scoring a crucial goal against Cameroon in the quarter-finals.
Morocco has been drawn into a challenging Group C for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside Brazil, Haiti, and Scotland, so Saibari’s fitness is even more vital to the team.
Despite his recent absence, the overall outlook remains highly optimistic. The issue is not believed to be serious, and both club and country are aligned in their cautious approach.
If his recovery proceeds as planned, Saibari is expected to return fully fit well ahead of the tournament next month.
