The position of Kim Min-jae (29), who joined the European top-tier club Bayern Munich with high expectations, is becoming precarious. Despite consistent appearances and his fighting spirit against injuries, local media and internal assessments within the club have been increasingly negative, and the possibility of a transfer is no longer just speculation but approaching reality.
On the 22nd (Korean time), Sport1 revealed the season review of the Bayern squad, giving Kim Min-jae the lowest rating of 4.5 among the defenders. In the German rating system, 1 point is the highest and 6 points is the lowest, thus 4.5 essentially corresponds to a failing grade.
Sport1 explained, "He showed stability in the early part of the season, but after suffering an Achilles injury, his performance deteriorated noticeably, which then led to him being identified as an area of concern in the defense line."
Another local media outlet, RAN, also gave a similar assessment. RAN rated Kim Min-jae 4 points and noted, "He stood out in the early season with speed and skill, but repeated mistakes in the second half and compounded injuries led to a loss of trust."
The controversy did not stop at mere ratings. Local media raised questions about the consistency of evaluation standards as Hiroki Ito, who spent most of the time injured, received the same score as Kim Min-jae.
Ito managed to play only 282 minutes during the season, while Kim Min-jae played an impressive 3,593 minutes, ranking second in total playing time on the team. In terms of actual contribution, comparisons were difficult.
In Germany, there are sharp voices questioning whether the excessive criticism of Kim Min-jae stems from racial prejudice. Critics argue that evaluations are being influenced more by external factors than by the player’s actual contributions.
After suffering an Achilles injury following the match against Eintracht Frankfurt in October, Kim Min-jae spent most of the season in recovery. He played through pain with injections and was forced to compete without sufficient recovery time even during the winter break.
Kim Min-jae previously stated, "I thought it was best for the team to go on the field, even though I wasn't completely healed."
However, such dedication has ironically backfired. In the second half, plagued by fatigue and injuries, Kim Min-jae became a target for criticism, being involved in conceding goals in major matches such as the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against Inter Milan and the Bundesliga match against Dortmund. Some local media labeled him as the "weak link in Bayern's defense."
Bavarian Football stated, "Kim Min-jae could be cited as a case of failing to adapt. There are discussions about the possibility of excluding him from next season’s squad planning."
Amidst this atmosphere, transfer rumors are gaining traction. Transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano noted on the 22nd, "There is a possibility Kim Min-jae may move to the Premier League or the Saudi Arabia league," adding, "The biggest variable is his salary."
Kim Min-jae is currently reported to be receiving an annual salary of 11 million euros (17 billion won), which is a significant burden for mid-tier European clubs. Accordingly, upper-tier clubs in the Premier League or Saudi Arabian clubs with sufficient financial resources are being mentioned as potential destinations.
Bayern Munich's stance has also been revealed. Bild reported, "Bayern Munich plans to first review offers from overseas clubs interested in Kim Min-jae," adding that they aim to completely block any transfer to rival teams within the league.
Kim Min-jae, who was expected to be the centerpiece of Bayern's defense with the assessment of being a 'complete defender' when he joined, is now becoming a central figure in the transfer market as the season concludes.
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