Speaking to Bild, Freund sounded notably more content with Ito's situation than his predecessor had been only weeks earlier.
"It was never our great intention to let Hiroki go," Freund said. "He is an important player who is now properly fit again over a longer period.
"If something extraordinary had come in and Hiroki had said he could imagine it, then we would have dealt with it — but otherwise it was not a big topic."
That represents a notable change in tone from Bayern Munich's leadership. Sport board member Max Eberl had explained only a few weeks earlier that Ito would not get sufficient playing time either at left-back or in central defence, prompting the Japan international to be actively offered to Ajax Amsterdam.
That move ultimately fell through once the Eredivisie's transfer window closed before a deal could be completed.
Ito, 27, joined Bayern from VfB Stuttgart in the summer of 2024 in a deal worth around €23.5m, signing a four-year contract that runs until 2028. His time in Munich has been repeatedly disrupted by injury, including a foot fracture and subsequent surgery, which limited him to a handful of appearances during his first full season at the club.
The Japan international's versatility — he can play at left-back or in central defence — has been repeatedly cited by Bayern's hierarchy as a key asset when fit, with Freund previously describing him as an important pillar for the squad once his fitness problems were behind him.
Whether that faith translates into regular first-team football under Vincent Kompany this season remains to be seen, but for now at least Ito's Bayern career will continue beyond the summer.
Ito arrived in Munich with a strong reputation, having been reliable for Stuttgart across three Bundesliga seasons and helping the club to a surprise runners-up finish in 2023/24. He had also represented Japan more than 20 times before his move to Bayern, adding international pedigree to a squad already packed with depth in defence.
His struggles for regular game time since arriving have owed far more to fitness setbacks than to any lack of ability, a point Bayern's coaching staff have consistently made in his defence.