Kim Min-jae has lost his standing at Bayern Munich. He is no longer regarded as an 'untouchable player.' Locally in Germany, there are reports that the club is open to accepting offers for Kim Min-jae in the summer transfer market.

Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Germany reported on the 15th (Korean time) via social media that "Bayern Munich does not classify Kim Min-jae as an essential resource to protect at all costs. The club does not intend to let him go immediately, but will review any suitable offers that come in."

He added, "If Kim Min-jae transfers, Bayern Munich plans to reinvest that money into strengthening the defense. Otherwise, they plan to build next season around Kim Min-jae, Upamecano, Hiroki Ito, Dier, and Stanisic."

Plettenberg is a journalist well-acquainted with the internal affairs of Bayern Munich. He was the first to report when Kim Min-jae transferred from Napoli to Bayern Munich. His mention of Kim Min-jae's transfer possibility should not be taken lightly.

Kim Min-jae transferred from Napoli to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023. At that time, he was the Serie A Defender of the Year, and he arrived in the Bundesliga through a buyout clause of €50 million (approximately 80.7 billion won). It was a transfer that former coach Thomas Tuchel strongly desired.

In the beginning, he lived up to expectations. Amid a high number of injuries, Kim Min-jae consistently played and showed stable defensive ability. However, as the season progressed, his physical issues became apparent. Mistakes repeated, and he eventually fell out of favor as a starter. In the second half of the season, he fell behind De Ligt and the loaned Dier, remaining on the bench.

The semifinal first leg of the UEFA Champions League against Real Madrid was decisive. Kim Min-jae made two critical mistakes. Coach Tuchel publicly criticized him, saying he was "greedy," and excluded him from the lineup for the second leg. Bayern Munich failed to advance to the final, and Kim Min-jae faced blame.

Transfer rumors also surfaced. Serie A clubs, including Inter Milan, showed interest in Kim Min-jae, and some reports predicted a high possibility of a transfer. However, Kim Min-jae chose to remain at Bayern Munich, demonstrating his determination to prove himself through performance.

The atmosphere changed after the summer. After coach Tuchel stepped down and Vincent Kompany took over, there were shifts. Coach Kompany emphasized quick defensive transitions and the ability to cover space behind. Kim Min-jae partnered with Upamecano and was reinserted as a starter. Dier was pushed to the bench, and De Ligt left for Manchester United.

Kim Min-jae returned as the team's central figure. He received positive evaluations for his defensive focus and positioning. In November of last year, the International Center for Sports Studies (CIES) selected him as "the best center-back in the world."

However, his physical condition was not perfect. Since October of last year, he had been playing with Achilles tendon pain. He participated in the national team's A-matches and continued to endure long flights and full-time appearances. Accumulated fatigue was inevitable.

During the national team call-up in March, he had an injury, but he did not receive enough rest due to the absence of teammates. He started again in the next match against St. Pauli and has played 41 matches for a total of 3,483 minutes so far. This is excessive for a defender. Coupled with injuries to Ito and Stanisic and minor injuries to Upamecano, Kim Min-jae's burden has increased further.

In the end, this impacted his performance. In the Klassiker against Dortmund on the 13th, he allowed the first goal by missing Maximilian Bayer’s penetration in the 3rd minute of the second half. Coach Kompany immediately substituted Kim Min-jae, bringing on Geheyloru. Stanisic, who had been a left-back, moved to center-back.

Using a full-back in place of a center-back implies that they believed it was better than utilizing Kim Min-jae. The nightmare of losing standing after being substituted during coaching by Tuchel resurfaced.

The evaluations from the German media were also harsh. Sky Sports reported, "Kim Min-jae was shaky in the Dortmund match. Coach Kompany's immediate substitution decision was not coincidental. Director General Ebber publicly criticized Kim Min-jae right after the match." It continued, "Kim Min-jae was called a 'monster' in Italy, but he has not often shown that form at Bayern Munich. He has not lived up to expectations."

Statistics also bear this out. According to the soccer statistics company Opta, Kim Min-jae made six mistakes that directly led to goals in this season’s league and Champions League matches. This was the fifth most among all defenders, a damning figure for a defender.

Legend Lothar Matthäus also joined the criticism, saying, "Kim Min-jae moved away from the ball instead of towards it. He seemed to have lost his sense of direction, and his overall defensive judgment was incomprehensible."

Director General Ebber also pointed out, "Kim Min-jae missed the opponent due to a mistake. Until then, he had shown good performance, but he must be clearly aware of the situation that led to the goal."

Of course, it is worth considering that Kim Min-jae's physical condition is not normal. Director General Ebber also remarked, "As the season progresses, not all players' conditions are at 100%. However, that doesn't mean there is a reason to prevent participation."

Ultimately, Bayern Munich has included Kim Min-jae among those for sale. Sky Sports stated, "Kim Min-jae is no longer an untouchable asset. The club will negotiate if the conditions are right," clearly mentioning his possibility of transfer.

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