''We brought him in even though Kim Min-jae is struggling to train due to his Achilles injury.''

Max Eberl, the Bayern Munich Director General, opened up on the 13th (Korea time), stating, ''Kim Min-jae is unable to train normally because of his Achilles injury. However, I have heard many people say that we have jeopardized Kim Min-jae's health.'' He asserted, ''We have never exacerbated Kim Min-jae's injury. On the contrary, we have always managed it well while keeping everything under control.''

Bayern announced a 29-man roster heading to the U.S. on the club's website on the 10th, which included Kim Min-jae's name. With transfer rumors running high, fans are not pleased with the announced roster.

There are growing possibilities that Kim Min-jae may part ways with Bayern this summer. He has played 43 matches for Bayern this season, totaling 3,593 minutes, with 2,289 minutes in the league alone. This is the second most playing time in the team after Joshua Kimmich. Notably, Kim Min-jae has been enduring Achilles injuries since October last year while continuing to play.

Despite needing rest, Kim Min-jae has been unable to properly recover due to the incessant injuries to his teammates, and he has continued to guard Bayern's defense. He has become an 'icon of overworking' to the extent that the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) has expressed concern. Thanks to him, Bayern retrieved the Meisterschale (Bundesliga championship trophy) that they had lost to Bayer Leverkusen last season. Kim Min-jae also became the first Korean player to win trophies in two of Europe's top five leagues.

After lifting the Serie A championship trophy with Napoli in the 2022-2023 season, Kim Min-jae successfully seized the Bundesliga title as well. However, Bayern is considering parting ways with Kim Min-jae. Local reports criticize him for having made too many mistakes since the second half of the season. Bayern's board wishes to send Kim Min-jae abroad if they receive a suitable offer and has already secured Yonatan Tavares.

There are numerous teams interested in Kim Min-jae. Chelsea, Newcastle, Juventus, Inter Milan, and Saudi Arabian clubs have shown interest in him. According to Christian Falk of Bild, Bayern expects to make between 30 million euros (approximately 46.5 billion won) and 35 million euros (approximately 54.3 billion won) from Kim Min-jae's sale.

Kim Min-jae, who always declared his intention to remain with Bayern and prove himself, has changed his mind. Falk reported, ''Kim Min-jae is one of the candidates for release this summer. He himself would not hesitate to leave the team if he receives an attractive offer. He keenly felt the criticism of his performance in Munich.''

There has been continued speculation regarding Bayern's public relations surrounding Kim Min-jae's transfer. Nevertheless, it is reported locally that Bayern's overworking last season is still taking a toll on his health. In fact, Bayern is known to be pushing to include Kim Min-jae in the Club World Cup. Still, due to his impressive performances, he is linked with several top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool.

Kim Min-jae missed the end of the season entirely due to injury. His recovery from injury has been delayed to the extent that he also missed the June international match. Local media has speculated that it is practically impossible for him to participate in the Club World Cup. However, Bayern surprised everyone by calling up Kim Min-jae. The club wishes for him to play in the playoffs, even if he cannot participate in the group stage.

In fact, Bayern publicly shared footage of Kim Min-jae boarding a flight to the U.S. on their social media. In the video, Kim Min-jae was seen smiling brightly as he departed alongside Manuel Neuer, Jamal Musiala, and Thomas Müller. Furthermore, there is a possibility that he could be fielded in matches during the group stage, including the first match against Auckland City on the 16th, as well as Benfica and Boca Juniors.

There are also analyses suggesting that Kim Min-jae's position could become even more ambiguous amid the competition dynamics with Yonatan Tavares, who joined from Leverkusen. Meanwhile, Bayern unveiled its new uniform for the 2024-2025 season simultaneously with the announcement of the Club World Cup roster. The model appearance of Kim Min-jae, whose transfer rumors are swirling, has stirred up even more complex public opinion.

Meanwhile, Bayern Director General Max Eberl spoke about Kim Min-jae during a press conference held ahead of the Club World Cup. While discussing his future was one aspect, the core of the mention regarding Kim Min-jae was about his 'injury.' He denied the rumors about Kim Min-jae's injury worsening due to Bayern's overworking.

Eberl, the Bayern Director General, stated, ''Kim Min-jae is unable to train normally because of his Achilles injury. However, I have heard many people say that we have jeopardized Kim Min-jae's health.'' He asserted, ''We have never exacerbated Kim Min-jae's injury. On the contrary, we have always managed it well while keeping everything under control.''

Denying overworking, Eberl emphasized, ''Kim Min-jae simply expressed that he wants to take a rest and recover his health. He plans to return to training in a few days and rejoin the team. Furthermore, when he returns, competition for starting positions will begin. There are many defenders, so Kim Min-jae will have to compete.''

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