Bayern Munich’s pre-season preparations have hit another snag as their new signing, Hiroki Ito, suffered a severe foot injury during a friendly match against fourth-tier club FC Düren on Sunday. The 25-year-old Japanese defender, who joined Bayern from VfB Stuttgart for 23.5 million euros this summer, was forced to leave the field after just 18 minutes.Bayern’s sports director Max Eberl provided an update on Ito’s condition, confirming that the player has suffered a fracture of the cuboid bone in his right foot. ‘This is, of course, a very heavy blow. We will provide Hiroki with all the support to return to the field as soon as possible and fully prepared,’ Eberl stated.Despite the setback, Eberl hinted that the team might not sign a replacement for Ito. ‘We have a very good, very large squad. Injuries happen,’ he said, adding that the team will stick to their general plan and reveal their transfer strategy on September 1.In other transfer news, former Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has signed a two-year contract with Como, a newly promoted team in Italy’s Serie A. The 31-year-old World Cup winner and four-time Champions League champion joined on a free transfer after his contract with Manchester United expired. Como’s coach, Cesc Fabregas, expressed excitement about the signing, stating, ‘Rafael is a special player, and his signing is a testament to our ambition for this club’.
Key points
- Bayern Munich’s new signing Hiroki Ito suffered a cuboid bone fracture in his right foot during a friendly match.
- Bayern’s sports director Max Eberl suggests the team may not sign a replacement for Ito, citing a strong existing squad.
- Former Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has signed a two-year contract with newly promoted Serie A team Como.
Contradictions👾There are conflicting reports about the exact nature of Ito’s injury.
Some sources report it as a broken middle finger, while others describe it as a foot fracture.
The latter seems more consistent with the majority of reports and the expected recovery time.
