Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) is at risk of leaving just a year after joining. There are reports that João Palhinha (30) has fallen to the status of a release target for Bayern. It has been said that coach Vincent Kompany is considering letting him go.

CF Bayern Insider, which covers Bayern news, reported on the 14th (Korean time) that "Bayern has made a decision regarding Palhinha. They plan to sell Palhinha, who is one of the candidates for expulsion." The report comes from Christian Falk, a prominent journalist at Germany's Bild, which adds credibility.

The media reported that "Bayern hopes to recover some of the €51 million (about 82.6 billion won) paid to Fulham for Palhinha in 2024. He is considered a failed contract in the Bundesliga. However, thanks to his performance during his time at Fulham, he still has a good reputation in the Premier League."

Bayern plans to build its midfield with younger talents instead of Palhinha. CF Bayern Insider explained that "Bayern expects that Palhinha will receive sufficiently reasonable offers. Ultimately, they realized that they already have good players, like Pavlovich, who is considered the future of the team, even though he is currently injured. And there is also Tom Bishoff."

Palhinha is a defensive midfielder who joined Bayern after leaving Fulham last summer. He is known for his large stature of 190 cm, wide range of activity, and strong defensive skills, which makes him effective in protecting the defense. He has also been consistently active in the Portuguese national team.

Bayern has poured efforts into acquiring Palhinha since the summer of 2023. As it was exactly the type of player the coach Thomas Tuchel wanted, they completed a fee agreement with Fulham at the end of the transfer market. At that time, Palhinha underwent medical testing and even had photos taken for the official announcement. However, Fulham could not find a replacement for him, which led to the deal falling through at the last moment.

Nevertheless, Palhinha and Bayern did not give up, and they eventually came together. Bayern approached Palhinha again last summer and this time successfully obtained Fulham's consent without variables. He was expected to play a key role in Bayern's midfield, replacing Leon Goretzka, who had fallen out of favor.

However, Palhinha has not lived up to expectations at all. He has fallen to becoming a bench option under coach Kompany due to injuries and adaptation issues. He is rated lower than not only Joshua Kimmich but also Pavlovich, who was born in 2004, and Goretzka.

Palhinha received chances early in the season, alternating between starting and substituting, but failed to show significant performance and lost trust. He has played only 21 matches across all competitions this season, with just 9 of those being starts. His average playing time is only 44 minutes.

Moreover, Palhinha has caused shock with his personal life. Immediately after transferring to Bayern, he committed adultery with a club employee while leaving his pregnant wife behind. He is reportedly undergoing divorce proceedings with his wife as a result. There are criticisms that the personal life controversy that erupted off the field has affected his lackluster performance.

Nevertheless, Palhinha remains determined not to give up and continue competing. Last month, Sky Sports Germany reported that "Palhinha has not given up and does not plan to leave Bayern next summer. He is determined to fight to claim titles until the end." Until then, it was also reported that Bayern is not actively pursuing the sale of Palhinha, who is contracted until the summer of 2028.

However, the situation has changed. Palhinha still wants to stay and fight at Bayern, but the club intends to offload him. CF Bayern Insider explained that "Kompany is not a fan of Palhinha. His demands and system do not fit well with Palhinha. He is not a player that Kompany wanted. He was a player needed by former coach Thomas Tuchel. The Bayern club also fully agrees with Kompany. They want to sell Palhinha this summer if the opportunity arises."

The media further reported that "Palhinha still believes he has a chance to succeed at Bayern. However, for now, it does not seem that way to all other decision-makers excluding him." They noted that "Palhinha did not play a single minute in the match against Dortmund. Instead, the returning Pavlovich took his place in the lineup."

Palhinha is also expected to miss the UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarterfinal second leg against Inter Milan on the 17th. CF Bayern Insider emphasized again, stating that "Bayern would have brought Palhinha in for the match against Inter Milan on Wednesday. However, it seems he will not have any role again. The holding midfielder was a goal for Tuchel. He is not needed by Kompany."

Finally, the media added that "Nevertheless, Palhinha wants to continue fighting for his chance. However, the Bayern board hopes he agrees to return to the Premier League and that his agent finds a club that shows interest."

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), João Palhinha, Palhinha's wife on social media.

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