Hiroki Ito injury to translate to Club World Cup audition for Bayern Munich’s Adam Aznou? | OneFootball

Bundesliga record champions Bayern Munich quickly confirmed the worst case scenario in the case of injured defender Hiroki Ito on Sunday morning. The Japanese international’s season is over after suffering another fracture of his right metatarsal and will be out of action for at least three months.

News of Ito’s injury hits Bayern hard as the former VfB Stuttgart centre-back was also adept at playing the left fullback position. Bayern already lost left back Alphonso Davies to a long-term injury over the international break and now FCB head coach Vincent Kompany’s options on the left are quite thin.

In the case of Bayern this year, one must take into account the fact that there’s more to play for after the season concludes. The German giants must contest the inaugural Club World Cup in June and (possibly) July.

Kompany still has a trained left-back in the form of veteran Portuguese international Raphaël Guerriero, but the 31-year-old’s pace and robust defending has declined a bit. As a result, Guerreiro has been more effective working in a limited midfield patch lately.

Josip Stanisic (a natural right back) and Konrad Laimer (a natural midfielder who has done well filling in at right back under Kompany and Thomas Tuchel) are options for the left, but are totally unproven on the other side.

Assuming that Bayern’s current financial status doesn’t allow for a new signing, all of this may translate to a big audition for one of the six loan players the Bavarians plan to recall early for the forthcoming summer tournament.

Left back Adam Aznou (18) made three FCB first team appearances this year, twice in the league and two in the Champions League. At his current loan outfit Real Valladolid, the teenage talent has accrued valuable playing experience.

Aznou has made five La Liga starts, going the full 90 minutes on three occasions for the Blanquivioletas. Already capped thrice for the Moroccan national team, it seems like the young phenom shall soon be ready for the next level.

GGFN | Peter Weis