The most dangerous defender to Kim Min-jae, the national team defender, finally completed training for the return team after 8 months

Feb 05, 2025

Photo = Sport Built

Can Hiroki Ito really push Kim Min-jae away. Finally, he returned to team training after suffering two long-term injuries.

Bayern Munich reported good news on its official website on the 4th as `Hiroki participated in team training in an open training session watched by fans at the Bayern team's training ground. Hiroki was sidelined last summer because of a fractured metatarsal bone. Now I'm trying to find my health. Leon Goretzka, who suffered a hamstring injury, has also returned to training" he announced.

Hiroki wore a surprise uniform to Bayern in mid-June last year. Bayern boldly paid for Hiroki's buyout clause, which grew from VfB Stuttgart to the top German Bundesliga defender. He is a left-footed defender who can see left-back and left-center back, so he seemed to be a useful player in Bayern.

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At that time, there was an opinion in some German media that Hiroki could go beyond Kim Min-jae and become a center back against Bayern. While Kim Min-jae often failed to show stability in defense in the second half of last season, Hiroki had a very good season last season in Stuttgart.

Germany's Sport Bild, who undervalues Kim Min-jae every time, said "Hiroki's return could pose a threat to Bayern's other teammates. Hiroki is the most threatening player to Kim Min-jae. Hiroki, a left-footed new center back, is destined to take over Kim Min-jae's left center back position. Hiroki is considered to play more strongly than Kim Min-jae and to have fewer errors"If Hiroki returns, he will beat Kim Min-jae to become the main player."

However, Hiroki collapsed after suffering a metatarsal fracture in a preseason game. Hiroki went to the operating table as soon as he came to Bavaria. Metatarsal surgery usually returns after about three months. However, Hiroki had another problem while recovering from his injury and underwent surgery again. In the end, he failed to return within 2024.

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Hiroki also had muscle problems in the process of personal training after returning from surgery. Bayern desperately needed Hiroki's quick return because Kim Min-jae, a key center back resource, was playing with Achilles tendon and knee injuries, but in the end, they had no choice but to overwork Kim Min-jae.

Hiroki has been taking personal training since January and has finally returned to team training. However, he has not been able to participate in team training for such a long time and his sense of play has declined, so it is expected that there will be no excessive input in the game.

When Hiroki started his personal training in mid-January, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said, "I don't want to put too much pressure on Hiroki because his injury was a complex injury. Hope to see him again in the next 6-8 weeks. We will provide him with all the time and space he needs"I once expected to return to the country in March at the earliest.

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He returned to team training, but in light of Kompany's words, it is expected that it will still take more time for Hiroki to return. Fortunately, when Eric Dier recently stepped on the field, his performance was not bad, so there is no need to force Hiroki to return.

Bayern fans also have mixed expectations and doubts about what performance Hiroki will show when he returns. He showed good performance at Stuttgart last season, but he has never made his official debut at Bayern. Under these circumstances, it is impossible to erase the feeling that Hiroki's prediction that Kim Min-jae will push out is too much at the moment.

If Hiroki can perform well, it will also help Kim Min-jae. This is because it can buy Kim Min-jae, who is still suffering from Achilles tendon and knee injuries, time to rest. If Hiroki comes out as a left center back, Kim Min-jae can also play as a right center back, so the two players can coexist.