“The way he wants to play is my football. (…) That’s why I told my agent that I definitely want to switch to a team that plays like Magdeburg and Titz,” announced Tatsuya Ito in January after his loan move from Belgian first division club St. Truiden to 1. FC Magdeburg. Unsurprisingly, the good relationship between the Japanese and the 51-year-old is well known – the left-footed player has not had more playing time under any coach in his career. After Titz’ working paper was reportedly automatically extended with the promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga, Ito now also announced that he wanted to stay.
In 41 games under Titz for Hamburger SV and Magdeburg, Ito has had 17 goals. The 24-year-old has been part of the squad since the 23rd matchday of the current season and has contributed three assists and two goals to the promotion triumph on the left flank since his change. In St. Truiden, where Ito switched from Rothosen in 2019 for a fee of 1.5 million euros, he was unable to assert himself on sight. “Before I came to FCM, I hardly played for two and a half years. That’s why I’m happy that I’ve gotten a lot of assignments here and that we’ve managed to get promoted,” Ito said on Friday in the “picture‘ newspaper quoted. A goal in 22 games, only one of which lasted more than 30 minutes, is the meager Belgium record of the offensive power.
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Magdeburg’s Ito wants to attack in the 2nd division: “Definitely do better”
Ito, who never really got off to a good start in the second division season after HSV was relegated in 2018, wants to prove himself again with Magdeburg in the second division: “I didn’t have a good season back then. That’s why I really want to do better.” His previous yield in the FCM jersey could be further expanded: “Personally, I would have liked to have scored more goals and made more assists. I want to work on that next season.”
Ito’s contract in St. Truiden runs until 2024, but the option for another year is anchored in the loan agreement with Magdeburg, which the club and players will probably draw. “I think I’m in,” said the 1.63 meter tall attacker when asked whether he would play for the newly promoted team in the coming season.
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