Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) raised the Meisterschale (Bundesliga championship trophy) in front of thousands of fans, savoring the joy of victory.
Bayern held a celebration for the 2024-2025 Bundesliga championship at Marienplatz in Munich, Germany, on the 18th (Korea time). Kim Min-jae was present as well.
Bayern, which finished third last season, returned to the top of the league after two years. Manager Vincent Kompany, who restructured Bayern with attacking football, surged to the top from the early part of this season. They secured early victory with two matches remaining.
This season is special for Kim Min-jae as well. He experienced league victory in his second year at Bayern. After winning Serie A with Napoli in the 2022-2023 season, he became the first Korean player to be crowned champion in two of Europe's top five leagues.
During the championship parade, Kim Min-jae received many congratulations. Dressed in traditional German attire, he greeted fans with a wave before raising the Meisterschale handed to him by Davis.
Kim Min-jae was a key figure in Bayern's defense this season. He played 43 matches in official competitions, totaling 3,593 minutes. In the league, he played 2,289 minutes, recording the second-most playing time after Joshua Kimmich. He partnered with Upamecano to cover the vast space in the back. He played a crucial role in the strategy of Manager Kompany, who pressures opponents from the front.
He had to compete amidst controversy over overwork. Since October last year, he has been dealing with an Achilles injury but quietly took to the field. As fellow defenders were sidelined due to injuries, he was not given adequate time to rest. It is reported that he even played while taking painkillers. The physical burden led to mistakes, resulting in significant criticism.
Bayern delivered unexpected bad news to Kim Min-jae, who has been struggling. The German media 'TZ' reported, "Bayern has classified Kim Min-jae as a potential sale this summer due to not meeting the expectations set at the time of signing." Two years ago, Bayern invested €50 million (approximately 78.3 billion won) in acquiring Kim Min-jae, but this summer they are expecting a transfer fee in the range of €30 million (approximately 46.9 billion won) to €35 million (approximately 54.8 billion won). This calculation indicates they do not intend to get back 'even' and, thus, want to dispose of Kim Min-jae quickly.
Kim Min-jae, who had previously expressed his intention to stay, seems to have changed his stance. Christian Falk from the German 'Bild' noted, "Kim Min-jae is a candidate for release. He is open to leaving if an attractive offer comes in," and added, "The criticism he received in Munich seems to have significantly affected him."
Bayern is already in the process of acquiring a replacement for Kim Min-jae. The target is 195 cm tall defender Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen).
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), AT World News, Bayern Munich social media.
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