The atmosphere surrounding Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich)'s situation is changing rapidly. Until the end of the season, Kim Min-jae expressed his intention to stay at Bayern Munich, but it is reported that he has now indicated he would consider a transfer if there is an attractive offer.

Christian Falk of Bild said on his podcast on the 14th (Korea time), "It seems Kim Min-jae has withdrawn his position of wanting to stay at Bayern Munich," adding, "I understand that he has conveyed to those around him that he would not oppose a transfer."

He further noted, "Bayern Munich had high expectations for Kim Min-jae, but now they classify him as one of the available assets for sale in this summer's transfer market."

This is a clear change from Kim Min-jae's attitude, as he had strongly hoped to remain with the club until the end of April. At that time, Kim Min-jae stated, "There is no reason to leave Munich. I want to stay with the team. Of course, I will observe the situation," expressing his desire to stay with the club. However, transfer rumors did not cease, and recently, Kim Min-jae himself has shown an open attitude toward the possibility of a transfer, weighing the actual potential for a move.

The core of the change is complex. Above all, it is interpreted that injuries and criticisms in the latter part of the season shook his confidence. Until the first half of the 2023-2024 season, Kim Min-jae was a key figure in Bayern's defense, significantly contributing to the Bundesliga championship. However, after the midpoint, he continued to play despite not being in perfect condition due to an Achilles injury, and frequent mistakes placed him at the center of criticism.

Locally in Germany, there was some agreement with Kim Min-jae's "fighting spirit," but there was also public discourse questioning his decline in performance. As a result, Kim Min-jae's position within the club has become uncertain, directly correlating with the possibility of a transfer. Falk assessed, "Kim Min-jae takes criticism very seriously. He seems to have been psychologically affected."

Amid this, interest from big Italian clubs in Kim Min-jae is becoming more concrete. In particular, Cristiano Giuntoli, the Director General of Juventus, who had been with Kim Min-jae at his former club Napoli, is reportedly reconnecting with him. Italian media reports, "Giuntoli is actively pursuing the acquisition of Kim Min-jae and is willing to face competition from Inter Milan."

Earlier, there were local reports that Inter Milan had also sent love calls to Kim Min-jae. Both of Italy's top clubs are in the fray for Kim Min-jae. They have not forgotten the overwhelming performances Kim Min-jae delivered in the 2022-2023 season, leading Napoli to the Serie A championship.

The transfer fee is also a major variable. Bild stated, "Bayern will not prevent a transfer if they can recover the €50 million (82 billion won) they paid for Kim Min-jae's acquisition." Meanwhile, it is reported that Juventus and Inter Milan are attempting negotiations at around €40 million (63.3 billion won). How this difference is bridged is expected to be a major point of contention at the negotiation table.

Ultimately, Kim Min-jae's future decisions are not simply about whether to "stay or leave." It is also about how much his value is respected and what vision he is presented with in future projects. Kim Min-jae is already recognized as one of the top defenders in Europe and is classified as an "immediate impact player" in the transfer market.

The time is slowly approaching for Kim Min-jae to choose whether he will once again stand at the center of the European stage this summer or prepare for his second season at Bayern Munich.

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