(Xports News, by Reporter Lee Hyun-seok) Reports emerged that Kim Min-jae's transfer to Bayern Munich has been postponed, but it has been revealed that there is no disruption to the transfer itself.
German reputable media outlet "Bild" reported on the 7th (Korean time), stating, "The medical staff of Bayern Munich is currently in South Korea, but Kim Min-jae's medical test has been delayed."
Kim Min-jae completed three weeks of training at the Nonsan Army Training Center on the 6th and returned home. In order to finalize Kim Min-jae's transfer quickly, Bayern Munich decided to dispatch their medical staff to South Korea rather than wait for Kim Min-jae to arrive in Germany.
Kim Min-jae's physical examination in Korea is also attributed to his condition. After leading Napoli to victory in the previous season in the Italian Serie A, Kim Min-jae returned to Korea, took only a week off, and entered three weeks of intense military training. This is different from the usual off-season, which typically includes more than three weeks of rest. Therefore, Bayern Munich respected Kim Min-jae's desire to have enough rest and be in good physical condition by conducting medical tests in Korea before entering the preseason at the end of this month.
The media stated, "According to our information, the scheduled examination has been delayed during the weekdays, but it is planned to proceed in the coming days."
The reasons for the delay in the test schedule have not been disclosed. With the delay in the medical test, fans who are waiting for the official news of Kim Min-jae's transfer will need to have a little more patience. However, as the Bayern Munich club plans to allow some time between the medical test and the official announcement of the transfer, it is unlikely that the official announcement itself will be delayed.
Since joining Napoli in the 2022/23 season, Kim Min-jae quickly established himself as a core member of the team's defense. He grew into a top-class defender in Europe through consistent performances. Kim Min-jae perfectly filled the defensive gaps that were weaknesses of Napoli's attack-oriented tactics with his height, speed, and excellent defensive sense.
He effectively neutralized prominent attackers in Serie A such as Olivier Giroud, Romelu Lukaku, and Paulo Dybala, showcasing his exceptional abilities. Along with Kim Min-jae's contribution, Napoli secured the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years. Kim Min-jae also received recognition for his defensive prowess by winning the Serie A Best Defender award along with the team's championship.
Kim Min-jae's remarkable performances caught the attention of other top clubs as well. Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle, and others were interested in signing him. However, Bayern Munich swiftly moved to fill the void left by Lucas Hernandez and took the lead in the pursuit of Kim Min-jae, and now the transfer is imminent.
Earlier, Fabrizio Romano, a transfer market expert in European football, announced through his SNS on the 6th (Korean time), "Kim Min-jae will complete his second medical test today. Bayern Munich is planning to trigger the buyout clause from Napoli soon," revealing the current progress of Kim Min-jae's transfer. Romano further predicted that the second medical test is the "final stage before the official announcement," indicating that Kim Min-jae's transfer is practically confirmed after the second medical test.
If Bild's report is correct, it contradicts Romano's claim to some extent, as there is no disruption to the transfer itself.
Regarding the contract conditions offered to Kim Min-jae by Bayern Munich, Florian Plettenberg, a journalist from "Sky Sports Germany" who is well-informed about Bayern Munich, stated, "The contract with Bayern Munich is until 2028, and the salary is between €10 million and a maximum of €12 million (approximately ₩143 billion to ₩172 billion), which is a significant increase from the €2 million (approximately ₩28 billion) he received at Napoli." This indicates how highly Bayern Munich values Kim Min-jae.
Amidst all this, German media even provided a personality analysis of the imminent arrival of Kim Min-jae, expressing their anticipation for his joining.
German media outlet "Sport Schau" reported on the 6th, stating, "Bayern Munich is on the verge of signing 'monster' Kim Min-jae."
Sport Schau mentioned, "Kim Min-jae is expected to sign a five-year contract with Bayern Munich within the next few days. He is currently undergoing a medical test that took place in Korea." Thus, it was reported that Kim Min-jae's transfer is imminent.
The media also highlighted Kim Min-jae's personality, stating, "Kim Min-jae made a name for himself as a very strong center-back on the field, contributing to Napoli's first Italian championship in 33 years. However, off the field, he appeared to be a very kind person." They paid attention to Kim Min-jae's strength on the field and his gentle demeanor off the field.
They further added, "Kim Min-jae can reassure Joshua Kimmich. He is very fast, has an uncompromising defense, and possesses a strong understanding of the game structure. Bayern Munich lacked the latter aspect, and Kim Min-jae's understanding of the game and playing style will be beneficial to the team's midfielders."
German media outlet "Abendzeitung" asked, "Will Kim Min-jae become a better player than Hernandez?"
Abendzeitung reported, "Bayern Munich is close to finalizing a contract with Kim Min-jae, a Korean player who will replace Hernandez. Although Hernandez has an impressive record, Kim Min-jae could surpass him." This was their report on Kim Min-jae's arrival at Bayern Munich.
Regarding the newly joined Kim Min-jae, they mentioned, "Bayern Munich plans to reinvest the amount received from selling Hernandez in Kim Min-jae. Coach Luciano Spalletti already praised him in 2022, calling him 'the world's best center-back who does at least 20 amazing things per game'." They took note of the praise Kim Min-jae received during his time at Napoli.
Abendzeitung compared Kim Min-jae to Hernandez, stating that Kim Min-jae is expected to prove his abilities further. They mentioned, "Kim Min-jae is significantly ahead of Hernandez in statistical aspects." They stated that Kim Min-jae had a higher tackle success rate of 63% compared to Hernandez's 62%, and he won more duels per game (7.6) and aerial duels (4.4) compared to Hernandez's recorded figures (5.4 and 1.4, respectively).
The media mentioned Kim Min-jae's speed and passing abilities. Abendzeitung said, "Kim Min-jae never allowed a single dribble in the UEFA Champions League. He attempted the most forward passes (1057) among players in the top five European leagues and received the third-highest number of passes (2547). Coach Spalletti praised him by saying, 'He catches the ball and starts running, reaching the opponent's penalty box within five seconds,' indicating his speed." They praised Kim Min-jae's abilities.
They continued, "Kim Min-jae is also outstanding in terms of availability. While Hernandez was absent for 38 games, he only missed four games this season. Bayern Munich has already found Hernandez's successor, and Kim Min-jae can fill his void, which is a positive signal."
With his abilities and the glimpses of his personality displayed on and off the field, the German media is interested in how Kim Min-jae will showcase both his strength and kindness at the Allianz Arena.
If Kim Min-jae's transfer to Bayern Munich is confirmed, there is a high possibility that he will make his debut in the first preseason match against Manchester City, which will take place in Tokyo, Japan on the 26th of this month at 5:00 PM. However, there is also a significant possibility of the preseason match being delayed due to insufficient rest after military training.
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