Bayern Munich’s Hiroki Itō credits Bundesliga for his development

Bayern Munich defender Hiroki Itō has had a tough time since joining the German Rekordmeister.

Injuries have marred Itō’s time in Bavaria, but it is all part of the player’s journey — one that has seen him make great strides since joining VfB Stuttgart back in 2021.

When asked how he has grown since moving to Germany, Itō had a lot to say.

“I get asked that a lot, but I don’t know. It just happened. The pace, the intensity, the physicality, the atmosphere in the stadiums – everything was different to what I was used to. In Japan, at 1.88 meters, I was usually the tallest player on the pitch. It was easy for me to win the ball. But now the strikers were suddenly just as tall, fast and strong as me. I no longer had a physical advantage. I had to learn to defend smartly,” Itō told Säbener 51. “I felt warmly welcomed in Munich. Serge Gnabry took me straight to a Japanese restaurant. Everyone always gives their all. It’s a lot of fun.”

If Itō can make a full recovery from his foot issues, he will be a great, versatile piece to have on the backline. All of that growth and experience will be put to good use.