Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae is answering reporters' questions.
I'm trying to protect my teammates.
Matthijs The Licht, who plays for Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga, defended Kim Min-jae, who was rumored to be transferred recently, in an interview with German media outlet Sport 1 on Wednesday. The Licht said, "It's the same as before. Kim Min-jae didn't say anything. However, there are reports that some teams will recruit players. It's a real problem. It doesn't match the reality. Dayo Upamecano is in the same situation."
The Licht has been drawing attention from various teams since his time at Ajax in the Dutch pro soccer. After playing for Juventus Serie A, he joined Munich. In the past, he suffered from a flurry of transfer rumors. When he failed to have a chance to play in the early days of this season, rumors surfaced that he would be transferred.
Kim has spent much time sitting on the bench. After playing for Jeonbuk Hyundai and Beijing Guoan China, Kim challenged himself to enter the European leagues by joining Fenerbahce Turkiye in 2021. The following year, he settled in Naples, Italy, the home of the defense. He played a critical role in helping his team win the Scudetto Serie A title for the first time in 33 years.
Kim Min-jae, who instantly became a world-class center back, garnered attention from big clubs. Then, in July last year, he headed to Bayern Munich where he paid 50 million euros for a buyout. Just two years after entering Europe, he became the starting center back for the world's best club. With the trust of Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel, he continued to play as a starting member. Controversy erupted over excessive labor while he was working between his team and the national team until the middle of the season.
However, he changed his position after going to the AFC Asian Cup, which ended last month. Tuchel benefited from the combination of Eric Dier and The Licht, who he brought on loan in the winter transfer market. When he performed better than the lineup with Kim, he put forward Dier and The Licht. Kim has spent more time sitting on the bench in the recent three games. 안전놀이터
Bayern Munich Kim Min-jae greets his fans.
He is still focusing on training. In a recent interview with Sky Sports of Germany, he said, "It's an experience I've never experienced before, but I'm sure I can learn something. I'm not dissatisfied and I'm preparing hard." Despite concerns over his actual performance, he showed off his unwavering skills by playing in the second qualifying round for the North and Central American World Cup against Thailand on the 21st and 26th.
Rumors of a transfer have emerged as chances for players to play have decreased recently. Manchester United England, Inter Milan Serie A, and Real Madrid Spain have also appeared. Contrary to Kim's intention, rumors about a transfer are spreading. However, Kim expressed his intention to focus on Munich.