Literally, it is a player cutter, including Kim Min-jae (28, Bayern Munich).

The prominent German newspaper 'Bild' reported on the 3rd (Korea time) that "Kim Min-jae's recovery status is not as good as the club expected. Following a precise examination in Korea, it was advised that he needs complete rest until mid-July."

Bayern Munich will compete in Group C of the FIFA Club World Cup with Oakland City (New Zealand), Boca Juniors (Argentina), and Benfica (Portugal) from June 16. The likelihood of Kim Min-jae not accompanying the team is extremely high. In fact, it has been reported in interviews with Korean media that Kim Min-jae's physical condition came first.

Kim Min-jae participated in a total of 43 matches and 3,593 minutes across all competitions in the 2024-2025 season. This was the highest playing time among Bayern defenders. The first signs of concern regarding his Achilles tendon were detected last October, but he had to endure until the end as injuries piled up within the team.

As key defenders such as Dayot Upamecano, Hiroki Ito, and Alphonso Davies fell out of the lineup one after another, Kim Min-jae virtually shouldered the defense line alone, enduring an exhausting schedule of appearances. Coach Vincent Kompany only allowed him to rest after the league title was confirmed early.

However, despite this overexertion, Bayern criticized Kim Min-jae for underperforming in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) and elsewhere. It was a total disregard for the injuries or physical condition of a player who sacrificed himself for the team. This attitude has also drawn criticism from the German media.

Additionally, now that the season has ended, Kim Min-jae's name has returned to the headlines amid transfer rumors. Last month, Bayern acquired Bayer Leverkusen's key defender Jonathan Tah (29). Accordingly, Kim Min-jae's position is rapidly becoming unstable. Transfermarkt excluded Kim Min-jae from the 'predicted best 11 for Bayern in the 2025-2026 season,' placing the Tah-Upamecano center-back duo.

Local media reported that Kim Min-jae is on the release list for this summer's transfer market. Christian Falk and Tobias Altschäffl of Bild noted, "Internally, the club has determined that Kim Min-jae's performance has not met expectations. He has been classified as a candidate for sale."

The teams showing the most active interest regarding Kim Min-jae's future are Juventus and Inter Milan from Serie A. In particular, Juventus has added credibility to its push for Kim Min-jae's return, as Director General Cristiano Giuntoli, who brought him in during his time at Napoli, is pursuing it. After signing Kim Min-jae in 2022, Napoli lifted the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years, thanks to his defensive strength. Giuntoli is strongly hoping for Kim Min-jae's return based on that experience of success.

Kim Min-jae is also keeping the possibility of a transfer open. Bild stated, "He has faced intense criticism throughout this season, and if the situation does not change, he will consider transferring if an attractive offer comes."

This situation has once again revealed Bayern's tendency to overwork Kim Min-jae, causing concern. Bild reported, "Kim Min-jae's condition could affect him until the preseason, and from Coach Vincent Kompany's perspective, the absence of a key defensive player will inevitably be painful."

According to this media outlet, Kim Min-jae is plagued by not only inflammation in his left Achilles tendon but also a nodular cyst in his ankle, making the timeline for his return uncertain. In actuality, previous reports suggest that while he was playing despite the inflammation in his left Achilles tendon, he suffered as a result on the other side as well.

With the addition of a cyst, he has entered the off-season in what can be described as the worst physical condition. In this situation, the largest issue lies with Bayern's poor assessment of the player's physical condition. Whether it is an issue with the medical staff or a coaching staff that ignored the player's physical condition for the sake of victory, it has caused great harm to the player.

In fact, Bayern has consistently faced medical issues with players since last season. In the case of Japan national team defender Hiroki Ito, his return was delayed twice due to improper care of his physical condition. While injuries to Upamecano and Alphonso Davies were blamed on the national team, it is also suspected that there were significant issues with Bayern's medical staff.

It is concerning whether Bayern, which has exposed weaknesses in medical issues to the extent that it could become a grave for players, can avoid sinking in this manner.

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