DPA
Munich
Bayern Munich presented defender Hiroki Ito on Tuesday and hope that star striker Harry Kane will got over England’s painful Euro 2024 final defeat against Spain and return to the Bundesliga club from holiday fully motivated.
"We’ve spoken to Harry. It obviously really hurt. He’ll get his three weeks of holiday, like every player, so he can switch off a bit,” sporting director Christoph Freund told reporters.
Pre-season training in Munich under new coach Vincent Kompany starts in earnest on Wednesday.
Their players at the Euros and Copa America will miss it, and those like Kane who went a long way there will also not be present for Bayern’s Asian tour starting on July 31.
Ito vows to work hard Freund was speaking at the official presentation of centre back Ito, who has arrived from Bundesliga runners-up VfB Stuttgart. He said that Ito has had an "amazing development in recent years, and I’m convinced he’s not yet reached his limit.”
Ito said: "I’m not a typical Japanese person but will try to do my bit with lots of hard work. That’s typical Japanese mentality.”
More arrivals possible, and exits Bayern have also signed midfielder Joao Palhinha from Fulham and winger Michael Olise from Crystal Palace.
Jonathan Tah from Bundesliga champions Bayern Leverkusen and Xavi Simons from Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with a move to Bayern as well while the future of the likes of Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Kimmich appears uncertain.
"We want to strengthen the squad. The transfers we’ve been able to complete so far were ones we really wanted,” Freund said. "We’ll see what the coming weeks bring. It was important for us that we could get a few done early.
"We can’t rule anything out, including that players leave. There’s no new update, although there’s a lot of speculation.”
Kompany motivated in Munich start Former Belgium international and Manchester City captain Kompany is taking over from Thomas Tuchel.
"I can sense his excitement. He exudes energy and can’t wait to be out on the pitch with the guys. He was here last week and is looking forward to getting going, just like all of us,” Freund said.
Bayern start the season with a first-round German Cup date at second-tier Ulm on August 16. Their first Bundesliga match is eight days later at Wolfsburg.