"Hiroki Ito is out and Min-jae Kim may not go to the U.S.; a big blow to Bayern Munich."
TZ reported on the 7th (Korean time) that "there is a possibility that Min-jae Kim may not participate in the FIFA Club World Cup to be held in the U.S."
There are concerns that having visited countries in the Middle East may affect his entry. The Korean national team will play a World Cup qualifier against Iraq on June 6. A visit to the Middle East is scheduled.
In the past, former FC Barcelona manager Xavi was denied entry to the U.S. due to a history of visiting Iran. While there is a general consensus that the likelihood of Min-jae Kim being denied entry is low, concerns remain due to the unclear regulations in the U.S.
There are even points raised within the U.S. government that "the entry criteria for Club World Cup participants are unclear."
TZ analyzed that "the possibility of Min-jae Kim being denied entry is low. Given the nature of the Club World Cup, there is a strong possibility of exceptions being made."
Nevertheless, his physical condition has still not fully recovered, and Bayern Munich has given him a break until the end of the season. Due to inflammation in his Achilles tendon and foot injuries, he will skip the remaining league schedule.
Local German media reported on the 7th that "Manager Vincent Kompany has decided to exclude Min-jae Kim from the remaining two Bundesliga matches." Bayern Munich has already secured the league title. This decision to grant Min-jae a break immediately after the title was confirmed is seen as a proactive measure in anticipation of the upcoming Club World Cup.
Bayern secured the top spot in the league with an 8-point lead, thanks to the draw between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and SC Freiburg. This marks their 34th victory overall, once again breaking the record for the most titles in Germany. Min-jae Kim's contribution was not small in reclaiming the team's top position after a year.
Since joining Bayern from SSC Napoli in 2023, Min-jae Kim has performed as a starter in his debut season. He participated in 27 league matches, anchoring the defensive line and playing a crucial role as the starting point for building up plays. However, since last fall, his physical condition has steadily deteriorated due to Achilles tendon pain, ankle inflammation, and even cold symptoms and back pain.
Nevertheless, Min-jae Kim continued to participate with the determination that "I would rather break down than sit on the bench." It has been reported that he played while receiving painkillers. The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) evaluated Min-jae Kim as the world's best center-back, and FIFPRO noted that "such a sustained workload is a warning sign," expressing concerns over overexertion.
The cost of overwork was harsh. He made critical mistakes in the Champions League quarter-final against Inter Milan and in the Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund, ultimately not escaping criticism from the club's upper management. Max Eberl, the Director General of Bayern, bluntly stated that "Min-jae's mistakes directly led to goals conceded."
Amid the growing controversy, Min-jae Kim stated in an interview with the German 'Bild' that "I do not want to leave. I just want to start next season in good health." Currently, the atmosphere is focused more on recovery and restructuring than on his release.
While it has been explained in Germany that there should be no issues with Min-jae Kim's participation in the Club World Cup, Japanese media convey a different sentiment.
Citing TZ's report, they emphasized that Min-jae Kim's trip to the U.S. may not happen. They did not relay TZ's explanation that "the possibility of Min-jae Kim being denied entry is low. Given the nature of the Club World Cup, there is a strong possibility of exceptions being made."
The World noted, "Min-jae Kim may not be able to go to the U.S. Without Hiroki Ito, Bayern Munich's title challenge will also suffer a big blow."
[OSEN]