As the season ended, the transfer war began. The war over Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) has started.

Rudy Galeti, a reporter for the British outlet 'TeamTalk,' noted on the 11th (Korea time) that "some English Premier League (PL) teams, as well as some Saudi Arabian teams and Serie A clubs Inter Milan and Juventus, are showing interest in Kim Min-jae." He added, "If Bayern Munich receives the right offer, they will definitely sell him. Serie A will propose a mandatory transfer after a loan."

On this day, Bayern Munich wrapped up the season's final home game with a 2-0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 33rd round of the 2024-2025 Bundesliga, held at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. Although they had already secured the championship early, their momentum did not wane until the moment they lifted the trophy.

Bayern Munich confirmed the league title on the 5th, when Bayer Leverkusen drew with Freiburg, solidifying their points lead regardless of the remaining schedule. Bayern Munich, which had been overshadowed by Leverkusen's unbeaten championship last season, regained the Meisterschale after just one year, restoring their pride.

In this match, Bayern secured a perfect victory with an opening goal from Harry Kane and a second goal from Michael Olise. The celebration with home fans was more exhilarating than ever. Kim Min-jae also made a long-awaited appearance in a formal match, joining the victory celebration. He lifted the championship trophy with his teammates, writing another chapter of his own legend.

Although less intense than last season, Kim Min-jae's 2024-2025 season was not smooth. He struggled with Achilles tendon pain throughout the season, alternating between playing and resting, and has been sidelined to recover since March. However, up until the middle of the season, he was the most consistently featured field player in Bayern Munich's defense.

He took many risks and played through pain, including using painkillers, a fact that came to light later. Additionally, he suffered from bronchitis shortly after the March A-match. Ultimately, Bayern Munich's early championship was built upon such sacrifices and determination. Kim Min-jae led Napoli to the Serie A victory after 33 years last season, and just one year later, he lifted a trophy in another league, the Bundesliga.

Not only in Korea but also across Asia, Kim Min-jae is the only defender to have won championship rings in two or more major European leagues. It is particularly rare for any Asian player to be a key player in a championship-contending team consistently, as is the case with Kim Min-jae. Son Heung-min, regarded as the greatest Asian player in history, still has no trophies.

At the moment he received the trophy and posed for commemorative photos, Kim Min-jae smiled brightly in front of numerous foreign press cameras. Team captain Manuel Neuer first received the trophy but immediately handed it over to Thomas Müller, who is nearing retirement, and in that moment, Kim Min-jae celebrated and applauded with his teammates.

Meanwhile, Kim Min-jae appeared bright at the championship celebration, dispelling various rumors. Earlier, Bayern faced allegations of racism due to their rude action of erasing Kim Min-jae from the congratulatory thumbnail. Although they quickly corrected the situation upon realizing it, it was clearly a scenario that could not be ignored.

However, by blending in with other players at the championship celebration, it seems that discussions about such neglect will quiet down for a while. This victory represents another beginning for Kim Min-jae. His validation on the European stage is already complete. The remaining goals are the FIFA Club World Cup and the next season's UEFA Champions League. As a key defender for Bayern Munich, he is poised to face the world's best attackers once again.

What will be the next challenge for Kim Min-jae, who showed the best performance? While some have speculated about a transfer, others suggest he is likely to stay with the team. If he remains at Bayern, pursuing consecutive league titles along with a challenge for European supremacy will be key points. It will be interesting to see what uncharted territory Kim Min-jae will pioneer next.

And now Kim Min-jae must prepare for his next steps. He must consider love calls from big clubs from Italy's Serie A and a new challenge at Bayern. Galeti emphasized, "Juventus' Director General Giuntoli specifically wants Kim Min-jae. He believes that to achieve Juventus's goals for next season, they need to sign the best players in the transfer market." He added, "He is particularly prepared to compete with Inter to bring Kim Min-jae from Bayern."

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