Hiroki Ito (26, Bayern Munich), who has been reduced to a 'glass body,' promised fans he will return.
Ito noted on personal social media on the 31st (Korea time), "I can't play this season due to injury. However, I will undergo proper rehabilitation training to definitely return for next season. There’s no way I will end this due to injury and criticism. I still only want to play here," expressing his determination in Japanese.
He added in English, "I will return to Allianz Arena (Bayern's home ground). Thank you for all your messages. Let's meet again soon." Ito's post garnered supportive comments from Bayern’s official account and teammates Aleksandar Pavlovic, Thomas Müller, and Daniel Peretz.
Takehiro Tomiyasu, who plays alongside Ito in the Japan national team, also contributed with a flame emoji, providing support. Tomiyasu, too, has struggled to play much this season with Arsenal due to recurring injuries. It was a moment of consolation shared with a teammate who understands his plight.
Ito collapsed during the match against St. Pauli on the 29th. Bayern announced, "Ito suffered a metatarsal fracture. Medical examination confirmed that he has re-injured his right metatarsal fracture. Ito got injured in the match against St. Pauli, which ended in a 3-2 victory yesterday. He entered the game in the 58th minute but had to leave the pitch in the 89th minute and will now be unable to play for a long time."
Ito, who has already suffered his third metatarsal injury since joining Bayern, is a Japanese national team defender. He transferred to Bayern after leaving VfB Stuttgart last summer. The transfer fee, including options, is reported to be $30 million (approximately 47.7 billion won). His contract runs until the summer of 2028.
Ito was expected to be a great multi-resource for Bayern. He can play as a left-back, center-back, and sometimes even as a defensive midfielder. Although he is 188 cm tall, he is also a decent sprinter with a top speed reaching 34 km/h. His greatest strength lies in his left-foot build-up and ball-handling skills.
In Japan, there were significant expectations that Ito could win the starting competition against Min-jae Kim. However, the reality was different. He collapsed due to a metatarsal fracture during a preseason match in July last year and underwent surgery. Furthermore, he faced a setback in November while preparing to return, leading to a second surgery.
Ito only made his debut for Bayern in February after seven months, playing against Celtic. He gradually increased his playing time through substitutions and starting positions. However, once again, he injured the same area and will be absent for an extended period. Ito seemed to feel the seriousness of the situation as he was substituted, covering his face with his hands while pulling his shirt over his head.
Ito has confirmed his season-ending status. According to Germany's Bild, he is expected to need around three months to recover. Having already injured the same area for the third time, the injury period may extend further depending on the rehabilitation process.
Max Eberl, Bayern's Director General, commented, "Ito has suffered another serious injury. This is a huge shock for all of us. He had just completed rehabilitation after months of recovery and was set to return, and now he will be out for a long time again," he sighed.
He also remarked, "We cannot imagine how Ito feels. He will receive all the support he needs from WOORIRO. He is a fighter, and we expect him to return to the field. Keep your head up, Hiroki. Bayern is on your side." He added, "We have lost a third defender in a short time following injuries to Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano. Now we must strengthen our efforts to keep moving towards our goals."
The problem is Bayern has already lost Davies and Upamecano. Davies, who was called up to the Canadian national team for the March A-matches, suffered a knee injury during the match against the U.S. He started but collapsed with an injury just 12 minutes into the game.
After the match, Davies was spotted walking alone, but upon arriving in Munich for a detailed examination, it was confirmed that he had torn his cruciate ligament. The rehabilitation period is expected to take as long as six months. Therefore, it was expected that Ito would fill the void left by him, but now Ito is also sidelined.
Upamecano's participation for the remaining season is also doubtful. After playing A-matches for the French national team, he reportedly developed a serious issue with his knee joint. Bild explained, "Unless a miracle happens, Upamecano is definitely out for the season. He requires at least three months to recover at minimum. He could be out even longer. Upamecano must also undergo surgery like Davies."
Consequently, there are concerns regarding Bayern's medical staff. Germany's TZ reported, "Ito resumed running two months after injuring his metatarsal during preseason. However, he faced a setback in early October, requiring another surgery." They noted, "Clearly, the training intensity seems to have increased too quickly and too much. Especially since it was known that Ito had been struggling with metatarsal fractures even before transferring to Bayern."
Ultimately, Min-jae Kim's burden has increased even more. He has been playing full-time since the start of the season without rest. He has recorded the second-highest playing time in the team after Joshua Kimmich. With Upamecano being sidelined due to minor injuries, Kim has hardly had a chance to rest.
Naturally, this could lead to issues. Kim has complained of Achilles tendon pain since October last year, and he eventually collapsed due to a recent injury. However, with no dependable defenders on the team, he returned after about two weeks and completed 90 minutes against St. Pauli. Although he appeared visibly exhausted, he covered the pitch until the final whistle.
Kim will have to continue his rigorous schedule moving forward. This is a critical period with two championship trophies at stake. Bayern has not been able to significantly close the gap with Bayer Leverkusen, having suffered a 2-3 defeat to Bochum and a 1-1 draw with Union Berlin in their previous two matches.
Especially with a quarterfinal clash against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League looming, Bayern is counting on Kim to stop the attacking force of Serie A's leaders. The two teams will face off in the first and second legs on the 9th and 18th of next month, respectively.
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Bild, ESPN FC, Bayern Munich social media.
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