Bayern Munich has canceled the contract renewal offer made to '3rd captain' Joshua Kimmich (30).
German newspaper Bild reported on the 27th (Korea time), "It's a surprising reversal! Bayern has withdrawn their offer for Kimmich."
The outlet noted, "Discussions about Kimmich's contract extension have been ongoing for several months. He was described as 'the future captain' by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 2020, and he could leave this summer as a free agent (FA). Moreover, evidence suggesting he might leave has suddenly increased."
Bayern is reportedly upset with Kimmich's indecisiveness. Bild explained, "Kimmich was informed earlier this week that the offer he received is no longer valid. Bayern officials do not understand why he continues to hesitate. They want a fundamental decision and no longer want to discuss the contract details with Kimmich."
It wasn't even the case that Bayern proposed a pay cut. The outlet added, "The initial goal was to lower Kimmich's salary. However, it changed due to his outstanding performance this season. The current contract is expected to be slightly better than the existing one. Kimmich is estimated to be earning $20 million (about 30.3 billion won) now."
Kimmich is the captain of the German national team and a key asset for Bayern. He has grown into a franchise star since joining Bayern in 2015. Starting as a right back, he has transformed into a central midfielder, earning the nickname 'the second Philipp Lahm.' Even now, he alternates between playing as a defender and midfielder, depending on the team's needs.
This season, Kimmich has been indispensable under newly appointed manager Vincent Kompany. He has participated in all 23 Bundesliga matches, accumulating the most playing time in the team (2,023 minutes). The only player who has played more than Kim Min-jae, who has 1,919 minutes, is Kimmich.
The problem is that Kimmich's contract expires at the end of this season. Bayern has been pushing for a renewal since last season, but negotiations were hindered due to his discord with former manager Thomas Tuchel. This has led to continued speculation that Real Madrid will attempt to sign Kimmich as a free agent.
Recently, it seemed that Bayern might succeed in retaining Kimmich. Reports in Germany indicated that Bayern was close to a renewal with a promise of a wage increase and that an official announcement would be made within a week. Many fans hoped for a second contract extension since 2021.
However, Kimmich's passive attitude could jeopardize everything. Bild reported, "Bayern held a quarterly board meeting last Monday, where discussions about Kimmich were also held. The decision is clear. The offer will not be improved any further. The current offer was withdrawn because Kimmich hesitated for too long."
Of course, Kimmich's transfer is not yet confirmed. However, as Bayern has changed its mind, the possibility of negotiations breaking down has increased. Bild indicated, "The door for contract renewal is not completely closed yet. The club and Kimmich are still negotiating following the cancellation of the previous offer. But it is questionable if he can revert to the conditions of the previous offer."
Additionally, the outlet emphasized, "Now Kimmich must make a fundamental decision. It is uncertain how much interest other top clubs have in him. As the captain of the German national team, Kimmich is reported to have received offers from prestigious foreign clubs. His situation is complicated, and since early this week, the chances of ending up with Bayern happily have diminished slightly."
Meanwhile, Kimmich has been a great support for his fellow defender Kim Min-jae. Last season, he supported Kim when he made a critical mistake against Real Madrid, stating, "I never leave a teammate who made a mistake behind. We are one team." This season, Kimmich also praised, "I always think of Kim Min-jae as a competitive beast." Kim Min-jae also revealed, "Kimmich is a good friend who always encourages me."
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