When they rescued a person from drowning, they demanded to hand over the bundle.
The German media outlet Bayern & German reported on the 31st (Korean time), citing a Korean outlet, that 'Kim Min-jae endured significant Achilles tendonitis during the season, playing for over half a year with pain.' They also noted, 'It seems the medical staff of Bayern did not adequately check Kim Min-jae's physical condition.'
Bayern has recently sought to reinforce their defense by signing Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen. Tah is a key defender who led Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga championship in the 2023-2024 season. The contract with Bayern runs until June 2029, and his jersey number is 4.
Bayern plans to form their defense next season with Tah, Upamecano, Stanisic, and others. Japanese defender Ito has been excluded due to injury, and Eric Dier is not included in future plans due to injury and contract expiration.
'FCB Inside' predicts, 'Bayern is likely to designate Tah and Upamecano as the primary center-back combination for next season. Kim Min-jae may be categorized as a backup along with Stanisic in the competition for a starting position.'
They added, 'Kim Min-jae has intermittently shown performances that meet expectations for the 2024-2025 season, but he has lacked consistency. Bayern is likely to sell him if an appropriate transfer offer comes.'
Another German media outlet, 'Bild,' analyzed on the same day, 'Tah and Upamecano are evaluated as complementary partners within Bayern. There is a high chance that Kim Min-jae will be pushed to the bench.'
Bayern is reported to be considering additional defensive signings beyond Tah. The likelihood of Kim Min-jae's transfer is becoming increasingly concrete. Christian Falk, a journalist for 'Bild,' hinted that 'Bayern expects to generate revenue of €30 million (about 46.9 billion won) to €35 million (about 54.8 billion won) through the sale of Kim Min-jae.'
The issue is his salary. European transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano noted that if Kim Min-jae wishes to transfer, a salary reduction will be unavoidable. Romano stated, 'Kim Min-jae is receiving a significantly high salary at Bayern. The transfer fee is not high, but his salary is potentially burdensome for teams trying to acquire him. European clubs may view this as a barrier,' adding that 'Saudi clubs could match Kim Min-jae's salary and may even offer a larger amount.'
Romano emphasized, 'Kim Min-jae must decide whether to lower his salary and stay in Europe or head to Saudi Arabia.'
Kim Min-jae is reportedly receiving up to €17 million (about 27.7 billion won) annually at Bayern. This puts him at a shared 7th position among players for high salaries alongside Thomas Müller and Leon Goretzka, which is among the best treatment compared to top clubs in the Premier League.
Kim Min-jae has performed as a starter under newly appointed coach Vincent Kompany this season. He struggled with competition for a starting role under former coach Thomas Tuchel, but the situation changed 180 degrees with the arrival of Kompany, who employs an aggressive style of soccer. Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano reclaimed their starting spots, while the slower Eric Dier returned to the bench.
Kim Min-jae repaid coach Kompany's trust. He has showcased solid defense with regained confidence and has been praised as a signature work of Kompany. In November of last year, he was even selected as the number one center-back worldwide by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) under the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA). Thanks to this, Bayern boasts the least goals conceded in the Bundesliga and is on the verge of winning.
However, excessive scheduling has led to issues. Kim Min-jae suffered from Achilles tendon problems last October but could not avoid overwork due to teammates' numerous injuries. He collapsed ahead of the March international match but immediately returned to the starting lineup after the break.
Kim Min-jae's physical condition is still not good. He was substituted at the start of the second half in the match against Mainz on March 26, primarily due to the lingering effects of injury. Christoph Freund, Bayern's director, stated, 'Kim Min-jae felt pain in his Achilles again. We did not want to take any risks. He said it would be better for him to stay off the pitch.'
The problem is that Kim Min-jae has been making more mistakes due to the exhaustion from overwork. He allowed a goal by missing the movements of the opposing striker in the recent 'Der Klassiker' against Dortmund, and in the subsequent UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Inter Milan, he failed to stop a goal by losing a header duel against Benjamin Pavard.
Of course, it would be harsh to blame only Kim Min-jae, but it seems that trust has already broken down in Germany. Sky Sports remarked, 'Due to the mistake-ridden performances Kim Min-jae has shown in recent weeks and months, he has become an asset that is no longer unsellable.' They explained that 'After spending two years in the red and white uniform, Kim Min-jae could leave the team this coming summer.'
These issues have ultimately led to the possibility of a sale. However, considering that Kim Min-jae had to endure a schedule close to overwork due to the injuries of other defenders, which exacerbated his Achilles tendonitis, it can only be viewed as harsh criticism. Additional reports on Kim Min-jae's physical condition have also emerged.
Bayern & German stated, 'In an interview with a Korean outlet, Kim Min-jae revealed that his Achilles tendonitis has spread to the other leg. Nonetheless, he played in matches while enduring pain for over six months,' adding, 'This illustrates how serious the injury has become.'
The media reported, 'Even Bayern's medical staff diagnosed that Kim Min-jae could participate in the Club World Cup. However, assessments from other medical professionals indicated that Kim Min-jae's physical condition is more serious than the club's diagnosis,' further adding, 'Therefore, it seems that participating in the Club World Cup is no longer possible for Kim Min-jae.'
In short, Kim Min-jae's injury has worsened due to overwork. In reality, if one pushes themselves while suffering from Achilles tendonitis, it is inevitable that the other Achilles will also be affected. It will be interesting to observe what consequences Bayern's recklessness will bring.
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