Bayern Munich has been dealt another blow to its defensive lineup as Japanese defender Hiroki Itō sustained a recurrence of a metatarsal fracture in his right foot. The injury occurred during Bayern's 3-2 victory over St. Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday, leaving the team short-handed in the final minutes of the match.
Itō, who joined Bayern from VfB Stuttgart last summer, has faced a challenging season with multiple setbacks. The 25-year-old first suffered the injury during a pre-season friendly, which delayed his debut until February. Despite making a promising return, featuring in six Bundesliga matches and two Champions League games, this latest injury will sideline him indefinitely.
Bayern's board member for sport, Max Eberl, expressed his support for Itō, stating, "He’s only just battled back after months of rehab and will now be out for a long time again – we can barely imagine how he’s feeling. He’ll get all the support he needs from us."
The Bavarian club is already grappling with injuries to key defenders Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano, further complicating their preparations for the upcoming Champions League quarterfinal against Inter Milan. Bayern remains six points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table, but the loss of Itō adds to the mounting challenges as they aim to maintain their domestic and European ambitions.
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