Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich)'s transfer possibility has been raised. There are prospects that a replacement has been found.
Bayern Munich drew 2-2 with Inter Milan in the away match of the quarterfinal second leg of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League on the 17th (Korean time) at San Siro in Milan, Italy. After losing 1-2 in the first leg, Bayern Munich failed to advance to the semifinals with an aggregate score of 3-4 across both matches.
On this day, Bayern Munich took the lead when Harry Kane scored the first goal in the 7th minute of the second half, but allowed a turnaround by conceding two goals in quick succession from corner kick defense in the 13th and 16th minutes. Although Eric Dier scored the equalizer in the 31st minute, they failed to secure additional goals, confirming their elimination.
Kim Min-jae started the second leg after starting the first leg of the quarterfinal and played for about 65 minutes. However, defensive instability was pointed out throughout the first half, and particularly in the 16th minute, he was pushed down by Inter Milan defender Benjamin Pavard during an aerial duel, which led to a conceded goal. Subsequently, Kim Min-jae was substituted by Rafael Guerreiro in the 20th minute of the second half.
After the match, local media continued to provide negative evaluations of Kim Min-jae's performance.
Bild noted that Kim Min-jae "sometimes seems unable to jump to his original height," suggesting that his previously known Achilles injury is related to his declining performance.
Kim Min-jae is reported to have sustained an Achilles injury during a Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt in October of last year. In a December post-match interview, he mentioned that discomfort in that area persists and recovery is taking time.
Despite the injury, Kim Min-jae continued to start. This was due to a shortage of substitutes in the defensive line. Hiroki Ito suffered a re-injury after a summer surgery, and Yosif Stanisic was sidelined with knee ligament damage. The doubts of coach Vincent Kompany regarding the performance of substitute player Eric Dier also influenced Kim Min-jae's continued appearances.
TZ reported that Kim Min-jae said he played for a few weeks taking painkillers while suffering from knee pain. Bayern Munich adjusted the training intensity to protect the players, but it is reported that adequate recovery time was not available.
Bild reported that Kim Min-jae has been playing with an Achilles injury since the beginning of the season and has appeared in 42 official matches this season. It added, "The injury has worsened to an inflammation, and there has been almost no recovery time."
Furthermore, it analyzed that Kim Min-jae was placed in an irreplaceable situation due to the injuries of Ito and Upamecano, leading to his involvement in most matches.
The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) has noted Kim Min-jae's overwork. According to the association, Kim Min-jae has traveled approximately 74,000 km this season, including A matches, and if this continues, there is a possibility that he will have played over 70 matches by the end of the season. FIFPRO warned that the lack of protective measures for players could increase the risk of long-term injuries.
In the second leg against Inter Milan, Kim Min-jae was involved in a situation where he was pushed in an aerial duel, leading directly to a conceded goal. This has given rise to the analysis that the practical effects of the injury have manifested in his performance. Within the team, the injury has been recognized, but the player’s participation continued.
In this regard, remarks by former South Korean national football team coach Hong Myung-bo have gained renewed attention. Bild reported that "about a month ago, Coach Hong criticized Bayern Munich for failing to protect the player regarding Kim Min-jae's absence from the A match."
Kim Min-jae has participated in matches without proper recovery during the season, leading to the team's elimination from the UEFA Champions League. This situation is evaluated as an example of how methods of player management can impact long-term outcomes.
Meanwhile, reports about Kim Min-jae's future situation have also emerged. Bayern Munich’s dedicated outlet Bayern and Germany mentioned on social media the possibility of Kim Min-jae's transfer on the same day. The outlet quoted Bild's Christian Falk as saying, "Bayern Munich plans to continue with Kim Min-jae, but if a club appears willing to pay €50 million (approximately 80.5 billion won), a sale could be considered."
It also added that Bayern Munich has included Bournemouth defender Dean Huyse in their recruitment list, suggesting that his buyout amount is estimated to be €60 million (approximately 96.6 billion won). The possibility was also raised that the funds for acquiring Huyse could be covered by the sale of Kim Min-jae.
Kim Min-jae is expected to prioritize rehabilitation and recovery for the time being, and his participation in upcoming league and national team schedules will be determined based on the progress of his injury.
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