Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) has shown his fighting spirit despite injuries, but the club is preparing for his sale.
Frank Rinkesh, a reporter for the German media outlet Kicker, noted on the 26th (Korea time) that "if Kim Min-jae leaves the team this summer, Bayern plans to acquire a new center-back in addition to Jonathan Tah."
He also remarked, "Hiroki Ito is expected to be out for an extended period. Yosip Stanisic will be utilized as a resource who can alternate between center-back and right full-back. Dayo Upamecano and Tah are projected to be the starting center-back duo for Bayern next season."
According to him, Kim Min-jae is not part of Bayern's defensive plans for the upcoming season.
Kim Min-jae has continued to play despite suffering from Achilles tendon pain this season. He has complained of foot pain since October of last year, but with Upamecano, Ito, and Alphonso Davies sidelined by injuries, Kim Min-jae has had to play almost every game without substitution. Even in difficult circumstances, Kim Min-jae played hard with a sense of responsibility.
It was obvious that his injuries would worsen. He was unable to join the South Korean national team during the A-match period last March due to injury recovery.
This season, he has played a total of 43 matches across all competitions, logging 3,595 minutes. This is the second most playing time on the team after Joshua Kimmich (4,377 minutes).
The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) has also expressed concern over Kim Min-jae's overload. FIFPro warned that "Kim Min-jae's case could lead to serious problems if it continues without proper protection."
Sustained overwork and injuries have led to a decline in performance. Kim Min-jae made a mistake in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Inter Milan, which resulted in the team's elimination.
German local media regard Kim Min-jae's sale as a done deal, highlighting one or two mistakes from him while forgetting his dedication.
At first, Kim Min-jae expressed his desire to stay with the team, but recently he appears to be looking for a team he can join. He has been linked with a team in the Saudi Arabian league.
Transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano hinted that "Kim Min-jae is likely to head to the Premier League or Saudi Arabia."
Tobias Altschepl, a reporter from the reputable German media outlet Bild, and Christian Falk reported that "the possibility of Kim Min-jae's transfer to Saudi Arabia is not completely off the table. However, as of now, there have been no official offers from any clubs."
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Sky Sports, ESPN FC, Bayern Munich social media.
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