Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) has finally stopped. After accumulated overwork, his body has shown its limits, and Bayern has decided not to field him any longer. The joy of winning the league was short-lived, and Kim Min-jae now stands at a point where he must lift his broken body.

Multiple German media reported on the 7th (Korea time) that "Bayern’s coach Vincent Kompany has decided to exclude Kim Min-jae for the remainder of the season." The German outlet 'TZ' cited deteriorating Achilles and foot injuries as reasons, stating, "Bayern has made it so that Kim Min-jae cannot play in the remaining two league matches to utilize him in the upcoming Club World Cup."

Bayern has already returned to the top of the Bundesliga. The match in the 32nd round between SC Freiburg and Bayer 04 Leverkusen ended in a 2-2 draw, allowing Bayern, who missed the opportunity to clinch the title with a 3-3 draw against RB Leipzig the day before, to unexpectedly secure an early championship. It was their 34th title overall.

With the championship secured, Munich gained the luxury of managing some key resources, but Kim Min-jae was closer to being unable to play rather than 'resting.'

After first feeling pain during the away match against Frankfurt in October, Kim Min-jae has been playing with pain. Hiroki Ito, who broke his metatarsal, the long-term injured Stanisic, and Upamecano, who is uncertain about his return, left Kim Min-jae with no choice but to play 'out of necessity.'

Coach Kompany's distinctive high-line defense required Kim Min-jae to sprint constantly, which became a deadly burden on his Achilles. He received painkillers to play in matches, but ultimately, his body could not withstand it.

Continuous mistakes have fractured Bayern’s trust. Conceding a goal against Borussia Dortmund and two errors in the Champions League quarterfinals against Inter Milan led to public criticism from the Director General, resulting in reports that he might "leave." Mentions of Kim Min-jae's transfer potential came from 'FC Bayern Brasilero', 'Sky Sports', and Fabrizio Romano, with reports also following that Chelsea, Juventus, and Newcastle United showed interest.

In the meantime, Bayern stirred controversy by excluding Kim Min-jae from the championship celebration video. Among the 10 players included in the official YouTube video thumbnail, Kim Min-jae was absent. He is a player who has accumulated 27 matches, 2,289 minutes, and a total of 43 official matches with 3,593 minutes, ranking second in the team for playing time.

Domestic fans erupted in anger, and as criticism of "Is this racism?" followed, Bayern hurriedly corrected the image to include a photo of Kim Min-jae, and the next day posted a separate congratulatory message for his Bundesliga title on official social media. However, the fans' sentiments did not return. Reactions included, "Are you lying down for me to receive?" and "Is this how you treat a player from Cha Bum-kun’s nation?"

Kim Min-jae added the Bundesliga title two years after joining Bayern. This made him the first Korean player to conquer both Serie A (Napoli) and the Bundesliga consecutively. However, behind this glory was a player who drained himself to the point of nearly breaking down.

Now Kim Min-jae prepares for the FIFA Club World Cup, which will be held in the U.S. in June. Bayern will set up camp in Orlando, Florida, and face Oakland (16th) in Cincinnati, Boca Juniors (21st) in Miami, and SL Benfica (25th) in Charlotte.

Bayern's defense currently faces significant personnel gaps. Dayot Upamecano has transferred, Ito remains injured, and the timeline for Upamecano's return is uncertain. Munich needs Kim Min-jae for the Club World Cup.

It is uncertain if he can recover enough to play again. It is a result of serious overload, not just simple rest.

[OSEN]