Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) has been evaluated as less successful than Hiroki Ito.
Sport provided a comprehensive assessment of Bayern players' performances this season on the 6th (Korean time). Surprisingly, the rating given to Kim Min-jae was 4.5, which is shocking for a defender who has been the backbone of the defense all season.
Sport noted, “In the early part of the season, Kim Min-jae was stable, but recently he has lost his composure and has become a factor of instability in defense due to injuries and fluctuations,” and pointed out that “there is a possibility of a transfer this summer.” Upamecano, Dier, and Stanisic each received a rating of 2.5, and even Hiroki Ito, who suffered from injuries all season, received a higher score of 4 than Kim Min-jae.
This season, Kim Min-jae has played 27 games in the Bundesliga, totaling 2,289 minutes. He had the second-most playing time on the team, after Joshua Kimmich. Including cup competitions, he has played 43 games and logged 3,593 minutes, bearing an excessive burden while participating in nearly every match.
The reason he could not be absent was clear. Since April, Bayern Munich's defense has continuously collapsed. Upamecano, Davis, and Ito have all been declared out for the season, and Kim Min-jae repeatedly played without rest or substitutions. It was a taxing situation, but he silently filled the field.
However, the reaction shown by Bayern Munich after securing the championship was the opposite. Kim Min-jae was absent from the official YouTube and social media content. While key figures were prominently featured in promotional images, main defender Kim Min-jae was excluded. Despite his overwhelming participation and performance, he did not exist in the images.
Fans immediately raised issues. Criticism followed, stating, “It’s unacceptable for a player with overwhelming playing time to be absent,” and “The problem is that it’s not simply a mistake,” with some fans suggesting, "Isn't this a case of racial bias?"
As the criticism spread, Bayern Munich posted an illustration and message mentioning Kim Min-jae's name on social media on the 6th. The post included the sentence, “Thank you for the passion and dedication shown during 27 Bundesliga games and 2,289 minutes. Congratulations on winning your first league title.”
However, the fans' reactions had already turned cold. They felt it was too late for the club to regain authenticity after initially excluding him and then releasing the post.
Media evaluations in Germany were cynical towards Kim Min-jae throughout the season. Prominent outlets such as Bild and Kicker gave him low ratings even in matches where he performed well. Specific mistakes were highlighted repeatedly, while contributions like stable defensive leadership and coordination of the back four were often overlooked. This revealed a clear difference compared to other players in the same position.
Kim Min-jae focuses on the game without direct complaints or expressions of dissatisfaction. However, there is an interpretation that this quiet demeanor has led to being undervalued. The league title won by Bayern Munich this season was certainly unattainable without Kim Min-jae, yet the club and local media treat him as if he were "an unimportant figure."
This case is too repetitive to simply be dismissed as an evaluation error. Son Heung-min has also shared the racial discrimination atmosphere he experienced during his time in Germany. His statement, “I still can't forget the things I experienced in Germany,” overlaps with Kim Min-jae's case and is being reexamined.
Two consecutive seasons of achieving championships in Europe's top leagues by Kim Min-jae. However, during the moment of glory, Kim Min-jae was closer to the shadows than the spotlight. It raises questions about why all the time he has shown has not been recognized, beyond just a simple omission.
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