Germany’s “TZ” reported his interview on the 18th (Korea Standard Time), saying, “Munich CEO Jan Christian Dressen talked about the possibility of transferring Kim Min-jae, Harry Kane, and Kyle Walker and the possibility of Leon Goretzka and Sadio Mane leaving.”The CEO officially announced that Kim Min-jae’s transfer is imminent. CEO Dressen said, “Kim Min-jae is expected to sign a contract within a few days.”It was a firm and firm answer. Compared to the answers to Walker, who has recently been strongly connected, it is more pronounced. “Walker is a player for another club,” said Dresen. I will not comment on the players of other clubs, and I will talk about it when the time comes.” Regarding Kane’s transfer rumors, he also avoided giving a specific answer, saying, “It does not grow faster even if you pull out grass.”
As such, Kim Min-jae can clearly confirm that the transfer is imminent. Thomas Tuchel also mentioned Kim Min-jae indirectly. Munich held an official press conference for Tuchel ahead of the 2023-24 season on the 15th.Along with questions about the team’s situation and the players who newly joined the team, there were questions about the players who are currently rumored to be transferred. The first is Kane. Tuchel expressed caution. He said: “I’m not going to comment on players who aren’t signed to us. But we are watching this situation. If we are confident that the player will help us, we will do our best,” he declined to answer.However, regarding Kim Min-jae’s question, it was different from Kane’s answer. It was bold,” Tuchel said, “We want to replace Luca Hernandez well. It’s no secret who should take over. “I won’t mention the name because it may not help negotiations at the moment, but I will try to announce it soon,” he said indirectly referring to Kim Min-jae.Napoli coach Rudy Garcia has already admitted. He said, “We know that Kim Min-jae is leaving. It’s very sad, but I hope to protect all our star players.” In fact, Kim Min-jae did not put his name on Napoli’s pre-season list, adding more strength to his trip to Munich.
Napoli recognized Kim Min-jae’s value and potential early and inserted a “buy-out.” Buyout is the amount set to allow transfer negotiations with Kim Min-jae immediately without consulting Napoli if Munich, which wants to recruit Kim Min-jae, pays the promised buyout amount to Napoli.Kim Min-jae’s buyout is known to be 50 million euros (about 71 billion won). The buyout is the amount set by Napoli and Kim Min-jae at the time of the transfer. But there are conditions for invoking buyouts. Reports have spread that it is a condition that will be activated from July 1 to 15 only for overseas clubs.Kim Min-jae’s buyout was triggered at 7 a.m. on the 16th in Korean time. It was known that Munich had to pay 50 million euros to Naples by that time to negotiate directly with Kim Min-jae. Many local media have also specified this and mentioned that Kim Min-jae’s negotiations will be completed before the 16th.But the deadline is past. And yet it’s still quiet. This suggests that the period of Kim Min-jae’s buyout invocation condition may be different from that disclosed to the media. In fact, Kim Min-jae’s buyout amount is not accurate. Some media outlets listed it as 48 million euros (about 68.5 billion won), while others claimed 50 million euros. Therefore, it is estimated that the period of activation will also vary somewhat.Of course, there are claims that Munich has already paid for the buyout. “Despite recent rumors, there is no problem with Kim Min-jae heading to Munich,” said Fabcirio Romano, who is fluent in European soccer news. Kim Min-jae is a Munich player who invoked the release clause after completing a medical test on July 8. All that remains is to sign the papers, and there is no problem at all. The official announcement is imminent.
Munich has completed all individual negotiations with Kim Min-jae. Kim Min-jae has already completed a medical test. Germany’s “Bilt” said on the 7th, “This has never happened in Munich. Kim Min-jae served in the military until the 6th. However, instead of going to Germany for a Munich medical test, Kim stayed in Korea. This is the craziest medical test in Munich history. An official announcement will be made in the next few days,” he said.
Munich has been very active. Kim Min-jae was discharged from the military after completing basic training on the 6th. It was immediately reported that he would undergo a medical test. Munich medical staff has already stepped on Korean soil, and Kim Min-jae is also known to have moved to Seoul immediately to conduct medical tests.Florian Flettenberg, a reporter for Germany’s Sky Sports, said on the 6th, “Kim Min-jae will complete the medical test in Korea. Munich medical staff arrived in Korea the past few hours ago and are on the scene. Munich will launch a buyout of 50 million euros (about 70.8 billion won) in the next few days. The contract period is until June 2028, he said, adding that Munich will soon complete recruiting Kim Min-jae.If Kim Min-jae leaves the hospital, he is expected to go through the transfer process immediately and wear a Munich uniform. But it was more complicated than I thought. Italy’s Il Martino said, “Munich and Kim Min-jae have completed all the procedures. However, the value of the amount to be paid to Napoli continues to change as huge amounts, including the amount to be paid to the clubs where Kim Min-jae played, are intertwined, he explained the reason for the delay.However, it was expected that an official announcement would be made soon. Il Martino said, “However, there is no doubt about Kim Min-jae’s transfer to Munich.” Kim Min-jae has already taken a medical test. The only question is whether the transfer will be announced in Lake Tejern or South Korea. A journalist in charge of Kim Min-jae’s transfer said, “Kim Min-jae will come to Munich even by swimming in the Atlantic Ocean if necessary.”
Munich is already fully prepared to recruit Kim Min-jae. Reporter Flettenberg said on the 16th of last month, “Munich is preparing to say goodbye to Hernandez and Benjamin Pavar. They are focusing on recruiting Kim Min-jae. Munich is currently working on a verbal contract with Kim Min-jae. The talks went smoothly, and the speed will increase after the A match period,” he explained.Hernandez wore a Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) uniform. Munich plans to recruit Kim Min-jae for Hernandez’s sale. From Munich’s point of view, it is a perfect replacement. It will bring Kim Min-jae for 50 million euros, but it will sell Hernandez for 45 million euros. Munich is the same as recruiting Kim Min-jae for 5 million euros (about 7 billion won).Britain’s “90min” released an illustration of Kim Min-jae coming through the door and Hernandez going out the door through its official SNS channel, saying, “One defender came in the door, and one went out. Will they be satisfied?” added the phrase.
On May 27, Dortmund tied Mainz 2-2 in the final round of the 34th round of the German Bundesliga in the 2022-23 season at Zignal Iduna Park in Bestfalen, Germany. As a result, Dortmund (71 points) remained in second place, losing to Munich (71 points), which won 2-1 against Cologne.Ahead of the match, Dortmund was close to the Bundesliga championship trophy, or Meisterchale. This is because Dortmund had a gap with Munich (68 points) with 70 points. Even in the last game at home, there were many experts who expected Dortmund to win. However, the team that laughed 90 minutes later was Munich. Munich has been the main character of Meisterchale for 11 consecutive years.Kim Min-jae will challenge to win for 12 consecutive years. Kim Min-jae has already become the main character of Scudeto in 33 years. Kim Min-jae, who wore a Napoli uniform last summer, immediately became a key player. Kim Min-jae received a lot of trust from director Luciano Spalletti. Kim Min-jae also contributed to Scudeto after 33 years of his team and was praised for recruiting the best players.It is simply a ‘monster’. Based on the soccer statistics media “Foot Mob,” Kim Min-jae recorded a season rating of 7.43 (10th overall in Serie A), 75.1% (1st overall) of pass accuracy per 90 minutes, 1.2 intercepts per 90 minutes (52nd overall), and 3.6 clearing per 90 minutes (23rd overall).Kim Min-jae swept the awards this season. In September, it won the Player of the Month Award by the Serie A Secretariat of Italy and the Player of the Month Award by the Italian Football Association in October. As a result, Kim Min-jae won the honor for the first time since Kalidou Koulibaly won the Player of the Month award for the first time as a defender in the 2021-22 season.Kim Min-jae, who even lifted Scudeto, was also selected as the Italian Serie A Team of the Season-TOTS in the 2022-23 season. On top of that, he won all the awards he could receive as a defender by winning the “best defender.”
Even if Kim Min-jae joins Munich, he cannot avoid fierce competition for the starting lineup. This is because Munich already has two world-class center backs. It’s De Ligt and Upamecano. Kim Min-jae must secure time to play through fierce competition with two players.Kim Min-jae and De Ligt are likely to work together. Upamecano frequently made fatal mistakes last season, giving up runs in critical scenes, which contributed to the team’s defeat. Of course, Upamecano is one of the key players in Munich’s defense. He is a defender who covers the back space of Munich, which raises the high line with his fast speed and solid physical strength.However, it has the disadvantage of being vulnerable to strong pressure. He also has a weak mentality. If there is a mistake in one game, his mental strength shakes sharply from then on, and he continues to make mistakes. In particular, he continued to make mistakes against Manchester City in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League last season, contributing to the 1-4 defeat.
Germany’s “Sky Sports” was also released on the 13th Upamecano’s big mistake against Borussia Mönchengladbach and Manchester City led to a serious loss,” he said, evaluating his last season.”Upamecano should not start next season,” he said. He emphasized, “I will play a backup role for Matthijs de Ligt and Kim Min-jae, who will be newly recruited.”Torben Hoffman, a Munich reporter for “Sky Sports,” said, “If Thomas Tuchel uses three backs, there is a possibility that De Ligt, Kim Min-jae and Upamecano will play together.” It will be a three-way race. However, in the long run, Kim Min-jae and De Ligt will form a center-back duo if they reach four back,” he predicted.