Breaking the long silence, Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) has made his appearance once again. Attention is focused on Kim Min-jae's footsteps as he returned to the official training ground.
Bayern Munich released a video of Kim Min-jae's return on the 23rd (Korea time) through their official social media, with the comment, "Welcome back on the pitch, Minjae."
In the video, Kim Min-jae was seen jogging lightly and stretching as he moved around the training ground with his teammates. Given that he had not been able to participate in team training or individual training since the end of the season, this was particularly heartwarming for fans.
Of course, immediate participation in actual matches is difficult. The German newspaper Bild reported, "Although Kim Min-jae has resumed training with his teammates, he is still not ready for tactical training or match preparations," adding that, "This can be interpreted as a sign that his physical condition is gradually recovering."
It further noted, "The club is cautiously approaching his return. Rehabilitation and conditioning adjustments are being conducted in line with his recovery pace."
The road to Kim Min-jae's return to the training ground has not been smooth. The inflammation in his left Achilles tendon, which began during the Frankfurt match last October, had plagued his ankle throughout the season. Despite the severe pain, he managed to play matches, and after the end of the season, a domestic medical examination confirmed the presence of a cyst (ganglion) in the area.
Bild reported, "Due to the combination of inflammation and the cyst, recovery has been delayed, and medical staff determined that at least until mid-July, rehabilitation would be necessary."
In this context, Kim Min-jae's return to training carries implications that go beyond mere image recovery or physical fitness checks. Most importantly, it directly relates to his participation in the Club World Cup.
Bayern Munich is currently participating in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup ongoing in the United States. They decisively defeated Auckland City 10-0 in the first match and secured their spot in the Round of 16 by beating Boca Juniors 2-1 in the second match. The remaining schedule includes the final group stage match against SL Benfica and the knockout stage.
While it is highly likely that Kim Min-jae will not be included in the lineup for the match against Benfica, there remains a possibility for a surprise appearance later in the tournament. Sky Sports Germany assessed, "Kim Min-jae is in the early stages of recovery, but due to the nature of the tournament, there is a chance he could join in during the later stages."
This "possibility of return" extends beyond merely strengthening the team. Currently, transfer rumors surrounding Kim Min-jae are beginning to emerge more prominently.
Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg reported, "Bayern Munich is considering Kim Min-jae as a candidate for sale. Several teams have shown interest, and they are prepared to enter negotiations should a suitable offer come in." In fact, major European clubs such as Inter Milan, Napoli, AC Milan, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly keeping a close watch on Kim Min-jae's situation.
Recently, there are reports that Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr is actively pursuing Kim Min-jae. French newspaper Sport stated, "Negotiations between Kim Min-jae's side and Al Nassr are progressing," adding that, "The player himself is not ruling out the possibility of a move to the Middle East."
In the meantime, Bayern Munich has begun restructuring their defense by successfully acquiring Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah. This can be interpreted as a signal that Kim Min-jae is not considered a central figure in the team.
[OSEN]