Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) clearly stated that he wants to stay with the team amid rampant transfer rumors.
According to Germany's Sky Sports on the 30th (Korean time), Kim Min-jae said in an interview with Sport Bild, "There is no reason to leave Bayern. I want to stay. But I have to wait and see for now," adding, "I have been playing with pain for 7 months. I want to play in a healthy condition next season."
Kim Min-jae has been a key player in Bayern's defense this season. However, he faced criticism due to an increase in mistakes amid the repercussions of an Achilles injury. Recently, local media in Germany have reported on the possibility of Kim Min-jae's transfer this summer.
Even last season, Kim Min-jae struggled to solidify his position at Bayern. He faced difficulties in competing for a starting spot under then-coach Thomas Tuchel. However, the situation changed with the arrival of coach Vincent Kompany right before this season.
Coach Kompany built an aggressive defensive line and utilized Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano as central defenders. Slow-footed Eric Dier was relegated to the bench, and Matthijs de Ligt departed for Manchester United.
Kim Min-jae gained the trust of coach Kompany. Despite making several mistakes, he generally showcased stable defense and received the evaluation of being "Kompany's masterpiece." The nickname "monster" from his time at Napoli was also mentioned again.
The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) selected Kim Min-jae as the world's best center-back in November of last year. However, excessive playing time ultimately led to injuries.
It was revealed that Kim Min-jae had been playing with Achilles pain since October of last year. Due to a series of injuries to his teammates, Kim Min-jae was unable to get sufficient rest and had to continue playing.
During the March international match period, Kim Min-jae took a break, but the pain persisted. He started the match against Mainz on the 26th in the 31st round of the 2024-2025 Bundesliga, but was substituted at the start of the second half. The match ended with Bayern winning 3-0.
After the match, Bayern director Christoph Freund noted, "Kim Min-jae complained of Achilles pain again. We substituted him to prevent a more serious injury."
Recently, Kim Min-jae has made frequent mistakes. He was directly involved in a goal during the 'Der Klassiker' against Dortmund. He also provided an opportunity for a goal in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Inter Milan by getting outmatched in a header duel with Benjamin Pavard.
The German media 'TZ' pointed out the issue of Kim Min-jae's overwork. The media reported, "Kim Min-jae played despite Achilles pain. There were signs of injury since the match against Frankfurt, but the club continued to field him."
It added, "Amid the injuries of other key players, Kim Min-jae endured the pain to play for the team, and fatigue accumulated, leading to more mistakes."
Bayern is contracted with Kim Min-jae until the summer of 2028. Bayern reportedly will consider selling him if they receive an offer in the range of 50 million euros (approximately 82 billion won).
However, Kim Min-jae wants to stay with the team.
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