It's a desperate situation. The atmosphere surrounding Kim Min-jae (28, Bayern Munich) is unusual.
On the 8th (Korea time), Germany's 'Bild' reported that 'Vincent Kompany, the Bayern Munich coach, has shifted to the possibility of releasing Kim Min-jae.'
Kim Min-jae is facing the possibility of parting ways with Bayern this summer. He has played 43 matches and logged 3,593 minutes in total across all competitions this season while wearing the Bayern uniform, and he has played 2,289 minutes in the league alone. This makes him the second highest in terms of playing time in the team, following Joshua Kimmich. Notably, Kim Min-jae has been dealing with an Achilles injury since last October while pushing through intense competition.
Even when rest was needed, Kim Min-jae could not fully rest due to injuries among his teammates and has continued to defend Bayern's back line. He has become an 'icon of overwork,' prompting concerns from the International Football Players Association (FIFPro). Thanks to his efforts, Bayern has reclaimed the Meisterschale (the Bundesliga trophy) that they lost to Bayer Leverkusen last season. Kim Min-jae also became the first Korean player to conquer two leagues among the top five in Europe.
After lifting the Serie A trophy with Napoli in the 2022-2023 season, Kim Min-jae has successfully claimed the Bundesliga title as well. However, Bayern is considering parting ways with Kim Min-jae. There has been criticism in Germany regarding his many mistakes in the second half of the season. The Bayern board wishes to send Kim Min-jae abroad if they receive an appropriate offer, and they have already signed Jonas Hofmann.
There are quite a few teams interested in Kim Min-jae. Chelsea, Newcastle, Juventus, Inter Milan, and clubs from Saudi Arabia are showing interest in him. According to Christian Falk of 'Bild,' Bayern expects to receive between €30 million (approximately 46.5 billion won) and €35 million (approximately 54.3 billion won) from the sale of Kim Min-jae.
Kim Min-jae, who has always stated he would prove himself by staying at Bayern, has also changed his mind. Falk noted, 'Kim Min-jae is one of the candidates for release this summer. He would not hesitate to leave the team if he receives an attractive offer. He deeply felt the criticism regarding his performance in Munich.'
Meanwhile, Bayern's public relations efforts regarding Kim Min-jae's transfer are ongoing. Nevertheless, locals continue to argue that Bayern's overworking last season is still affecting him. In fact, it has been reported that Bayern is even trying to take Kim Min-jae to the Club World Cup despite the strain. Nevertheless, due to his outstanding performances, he is being linked with several big clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool.
Germany's 'Bild' reported, 'Bild's Director General Campos has been a fan of Kim Min-jae since his time at Fenerbahçe. Kim Min-jae is currently continuing to achieve outstanding results at Bayern and is attracting interest from several clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, Al Nassr, and AC Milan. Furthermore, a shocking fact has been reported.'
'The betrayal of Coach Kompany. Bild states, 'Previously hopeful for retention, Coach Kompany is now showing intentions to release Kim Min-jae, as it is said that he prefers players like Maxim Estève from Burnley.' It emphasized that this is possible if reasonable transfer fees are presented.
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