Bayern Munich is once again telling Kim Min-jae (29) to 'get out.' They are no longer hiding it.
The prominent German media outlet Bild reported on the 8th (Korean time) that 'Bayern is looking to recruit Chelsea defender Renato Veiga,' adding, 'This is conditional on the transfer of Kim Min-jae. This means that Kim Min-jae is no longer included in Munich's plans.'
Veiga is a young defender from Portugal, born in 2003. His primary position is center-back, but he is a versatile defensive asset who can also play as a defensive midfielder and left-back. Being left-footed, he excels in build-up play and has strong physical man-to-man defense. Despite his young age, he is a rising talent attracting attention across Europe.
Having come from Sporting's youth, Veiga began his professional career with the B team in 2021, then moved to Switzerland's Basel after a loan spell in Bundesliga with Augsburg, where he put in stable performances. Subsequently, Chelsea recruited him for €14 million (about 21 billion won), but he appeared in just one match in the Premier League.
Ultimately, Veiga was unable to establish himself at Chelsea and was loaned to Juventus, where he impressed in 15 matches in Serie A, raising his profile. Now, he has caught Bayern Munich's interest. However, for the 'Veiga card' to come into play, a precondition exists: the transfer of Kim Min-jae.
Bild reported, 'Veiga's move to Bayern is only possible if Kim Min-jae is released.' This indicates that Munich no longer includes Kim Min-jae in its defensive plans. Kim Min-jae transferred from Napoli to Bayern in the summer of 2023. At that time, the acquisition was celebrated as the signing of a 'world-class defender' and generated considerable excitement across Germany.
In fact, his early performances were overwhelming. He showcased league-leading skills in strong man-marking, defensive leadership, and aerial dominance. However, due to overwork, injuries, and tactical mismatches, he struggled in the second half of the season. Under the new coach Vincent Kompany, his position became even narrower. He did not play a single minute in the Club World Cup, effectively entering a 'release phase.'
Compounding the issues, Bayern is planning a defense centered around Josha Vagnoman and Dayot Upamecano. Both players are skilled at left-footed build-up. Additionally, targeting left-footed versatile defender Veiga signals that Kim Min-jae has fallen behind even in Munich's defensive rotation. The problem lies in Munich's attitude. While pushing for Kim Min-jae's release, they do not want to sell him at a 'bargain price.'
According to Bild, Bayern has set a transfer fee of around €35 million (about 56.2 billion won). This is a similar amount to what they paid to acquire him from Napoli. Currently, teams showing interest in Kim Min-jae include AC Milan, Manchester United, and Liverpool, but no official offers have been made yet. Particularly, Liverpool's transfer efforts have been delayed due to the recent shocking death of Diogo Jota.
In the end, Bayern's message is one: 'We can only consider bringing in someone else after Kim Min-jae leaves.' Last summer, they were so eager to reach out, yet after just a year, they display such an unforgiving attitude. The dignity of a prestigious club seems to be lacking here. Just a year ago, Kim Min-jae was seen as a 'key project.' Now, he is merely a 'transfer condition.'
Criticism of ingratitude is unavoidable. The portrayal of acquiring a world-class defender and then turning cold after just one season raises questions about whether this aligns with the prestige of a top club.
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