It is literally an ongoing ordeal.

On the 14th (Korea time), Germany's 'Kicker' reported, "Kim Min-jae is working hard on rehabilitation with his Bayern Munich teammates, but he is likely to return only after July." This is effectively news of his inability to participate in the Club World Cup, and criticism of the Bayern club for forcibly calling him up is growing.

It has been revealed that Kim Min-jae has been dealing with an Achilles injury since the match against Eintracht Frankfurt in October last year. Nevertheless, he has played 43 games for the team. Even during the winter break, his recovery was slow. However, under coach Vincent Kompany, Kim Min-jae returned to the starting lineup.

However, right after the March A-match, with Dayot Upamecano and Hiroki Ito both out for the season, Kim Min-jae effectively supported the defense all by himself. He played a total of 3,593 minutes across all competitions, the most minutes recorded among Bayern defenders.

Upamecano (1,761 minutes) and Alphonso Davies (1,561 minutes), who are regarded as key players for the team, were declared out for the season early on. Kim Min-jae held his position to the end and was only allowed to rest after Bayern secured the Bundesliga title. Nevertheless, claims have been made that Kim Min-jae performed poorly toward the end.

In fact, due to claims of his poor performance, Bayern has been consistently preparing to sell Kim Min-jae. Especially after signing Jonathan Tah, they appear to be looking to offload Kim Min-jae. However, as several teams have expressed interest in him, they are showing a somewhat flip-flopping attitude by raising their asking price.

Bayern has no time to rest. On the 10th, they departed for the United States to participate in the Club World Cup and are currently undergoing training. Bayern is scheduled to play their first match of the tournament against Auckland City at 1 a.m. on the 16th. Ahead of this match, Bayern's Director General Max Eberl denied the claims of overworking Kim Min-jae.

Director General Eberl stated, "Kim Min-jae has suffered quite a bit from his Achilles injury and has been dealing with this issue for a long time. While it has spread that he pushed his health too far, we haven't reached that level." He added, "I believe we have managed the situation well, and now Kim Min-jae is saying he wants to 'fully recover.' He is expected to return to training within a few days and join the team." He claimed Bayern is not responsible for Kim Min-jae's injury.

However, contrary to Director General Eberl's comments, it seems difficult to see Kim Min-jae's return. Kicker reported, "The center-back Kim Min-jae, who has suffered from an Achilles injury for a long time, is preparing to return. However, whether he will participate in the Club World Cup remains uncertain," and added, "Unlike what Director General Eberl said, Kim Min-jae is still struggling with his Achilles issue."

Kicker explained, "If the reporting is accurate, the likelihood of Kim Min-jae returning to the field soon is low. According to our investigation, Kim Min-jae may be able to play again as early as next month, July. His participation in the Club World Cup is currently very uncertain. His condition is gradually improving, but for the time being, he is expected to focus on rehabilitation with the team."

Previously, on the 14th, Bayern posted a poster featuring Harry Kane, Thomas Müller, Jamal Musiala, and Kim Min-jae on their official social media to announce the start of the Club World Cup. Ironically, given that Kim Min-jae seems unlikely to play, the club's chaotic medical management has been exposed.

Right now, the most important thing for Kim Min-jae is to recover his health. What happens afterward is still uncertain. Director General Eberl noted, "Including Upamecano, Kim Min-jae, and Tah, along with Stanišić and Ito, there are 4 to 5 center-backs. The composition of the defense is very good. Kim Min-jae needs to hold his ground in that competition."

Kicker stated, "If a suitable offer arrives, Kim Min-jae could become a candidate for sale. Several clubs have already shown interest. It is still uncertain what choice Kim Min-jae will make after fully recovering. However, at this moment, 'health' is the priority above all else."

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