The local evaluations in Germany and Italy are literally worlds apart.
Lothar Matthäus, a legend of the German national football team and Bayern Munich, and now a commentator, selected the best 11 for the 2024-2025 Bundesliga on the 17th (Korean time). Known for his low evaluations of Kim Min-jae, he drew attention by placing Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah in the center-back positions of the best 11.
Bayern is facing a major overhaul of its defensive line. Previously, in April of last year, Germany's Sky Sports reported, "According to our investigation, Bayern is aiming to sign Jonathan Tah. Bayern has been deeply impressed by his performances this season. He can play in both a back three and a back four. Additionally, he is one of the fastest defenders in the Bundesliga."
Initially, Tah was rumored to transfer to FC Barcelona. In fact, personal agreements between the player and the club were reportedly finalized. However, the situation changed rapidly. Barcelona found itself unable to complete the transfer due to financial issues. Thus, the circumstances shifted, leading Tah to eventually move to Bayern.
After the report last April, Tah directly announced that he would leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of this season. The Athletic reported, "If the contract is finalized, he will sign a three-year deal with Bayern, with an option for an additional year." Last weekend's home game against Borussia Dortmund (a 2-4 loss) was his final home game with Leverkusen. After the match, Tah took the microphone and bid farewell to the home fans.
According to Germany's BILD, he reportedly said, "On one hand, I feel sad, and on the other hand, I look forward to the new journey ahead." He added, "I am deeply grateful for the love and support shown by the fans over the past 10 years." Earlier, The Athletic reported on the 13th that discussions were underway for Tah to join Bayern Munich as a free agent after his contract with Bayer Leverkusen ends this summer.
The media stated, "Bayern has been pursuing reinforcements at center-back following Eric Dier's transfer to AS Monaco this summer. Tah, who is the vice-captain of Leverkusen, has played a total of 401 games at BayArena over the past 10 seasons. Notably, he played a key role in the team's treble achievement, including an undefeated Bundesliga title in the 2023-2024 season."
On the 14th, Romano stated, "The official proposal Bayern presented to Tah has been fully completed, including internal club approvals. This includes salary conditions as well," adding, "Now, the final key step is the player's decision. If Tah agrees, the transaction will be finalized. The ball is in Tah's court." As rumors of Tah's acquisition intensified, claims in the German media that Kim Min-jae would be sold gained momentum.
Germany's Transfermarkt predicted Bayern's lineup for the next season, suggesting that Tah and Upamecano will start, while Kim Min-jae will be sold. Additionally, on the 14th, the German media 'Sport Bild' reported, "Kim Min-jae is no longer an 'untouchable' asset. The club has not seen the level of performance expected and he could potentially be included in the transfer list."
BILD noted that Bayern is even considering selling Kim Min-jae at a low transfer fee. Kim Min-jae was informed that he could leave the team this summer. This was before Dier decided to transfer to AS Monaco. However, even with Tah's arrival, Bayern still intends to sell Kim Min-jae. They are also considering discounting the transfer fee.
This season, Kim Min-jae has faced a tough schedule due to injuries to other players. Nevertheless, statements from German media justifying a sale by claiming that Kim Min-jae does not fit as the leader of the defense continue to dismiss the player's contributions, focusing solely on negative evaluations.
Matthäus is known as a famous commentator and critic representing Bayern. He has generally shown a negative view of Kim Min-jae, although he defended him right after a match against Inter. However, he has consistently maintained a cold assessment, claiming that Kim Min-jae has been underperforming.
In his selection for the best 11, Matthäus excluded Kim Min-jae. Notably, unlike Kim Min-jae, who is up for sale, Matthäus placed his partner Upamecano, with whom negotiations for a contract extension are ongoing, and Tah, who is set to be acquired as a free agent, in the central part of the back four.
This reflects the local German perspective. In fact, it can be interpreted that the ratings from German outlets like Kicker highlight that Kim Min-jae is disregarded compared to Upamecano and Tah.
In reality, journalist Christian Falk added, "Kim Min-jae himself is open to considering a transfer if an attractive offer comes in." Nevertheless, due to Bayern's cold evaluations, the likelihood of Kim Min-jae leaving Germany is increasing. It has been suggested that Juventus, which had brought Kim Min-jae during his time at Napoli, and Inter Milan are also entering the transfer race.
The local assessments have ultimately contributed to the atmosphere in which Bayern is likely to release Kim Min-jae. In contrast, in Italy, he is still regarded as a world-class defender. Given the ongoing interest from teams like Inter Milan and Juventus, it seems likely that he will eventually change teams.
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