Kim Min-jae (28, Bayern Munich) boarded the plane to the United States with the team. Unlike the tumultuous atmosphere surrounding transfer rumors, Kim Min-jae has also appeared as a uniform model, directly showing that he is included in the plans for the new season.

Bayern Munich announced on the 11th (Korea time) through its official website that "a total of 29 players have departed for Orlando, Florida, USA," revealing the training camp roster.

This roster proudly includes key players such as Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, and Jamal Musiala, along with the name of Kim Min-jae. Newly signed Jonathan Tah and promising player Tom Bishop also boarded the plane.

In the departure video released on Bayern Munich's social media, Kim Min-jae appeared with a bright expression. He was seen greeting Neuer, Müller, and Musiala, having finished preparations for departure. Recently, various foreign media reported on transfer rumors to Tottenham, but his expression remained stoic.

Kim Min-jae contributed to the team's league victory last season, playing 43 official matches (3 goals) in his first year with Bayern Munich. He scored 2 goals in 27 matches in the Bundesliga, and also played 13 matches in the UEFA Champions League with 1 goal, and participated in 3 matches in the German Football Association (DFB) Pokal, proving to be an invaluable defensive resource.

However, as the season progressed, the situation changed. Suffering from Achilles tendon pain, defensive instability became apparent in some matches, leading to criticism and the emergence of transfer rumors. Bayern Munich granted Kim Min-jae a rest during the season's final stretch, and in the process, they secured Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen, marking the beginning of a defensive reshuffle.

The competition is expected to become even more intense. Jonathan Tah is a key defender who led the unbeaten championship in the Bundesliga last season, and projections indicate that competition for position with Kim Min-jae will be unavoidable from the moment he joins. Bayern Munich plans to focus on preparing for the Club World Cup while simultaneously assessing their defensive line ahead of the new season.

Apart from the competition for the starting position, Kim Min-jae also appeared as a model at the new home uniform announcement event for the upcoming season. Bayern Munich unveiled a new uniform emphasizing the traditional red and white colors, and official photos of Kim Min-jae wearing it were also posted on the club's social media. This signals that the club views him not merely as a transfer candidate but as a key figure in both marketing and strategy for the new season.

Kim Min-jae is preparing for his first match in the group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup against Auckland City (Oceania champion) on the 16th, as well as matches against Boca Juniors (Argentina) and Benfica (Portugal). The Club World Cup will be Kim Min-jae's first experience on the global club stage since joining Bayern Munich and is anticipated to be an important test for him to reaffirm his standing.

Meanwhile, the transfer rumors surrounding Kim Min-jae's future may persist for the time being. Multiple Premier League clubs, including Tottenham, are still showing interest, and Bayern Munich's leadership has reportedly been adjusting their stance flexibly depending on the situation.

However, for now, Kim Min-jae is proving the club's intention that he is not a 'transfer target' but rather 'a pillar of strength.' His next steps, after boarding the plane to the United States in the new uniform, are being closely watched.

[OSEN]