The next destination of ‘monster defender’ Kim Min-jae (27, Napoli) is of great interest to coach Jürgen Klinsmann (59).
The South Korean national soccer team, led by Jürgen Klinsmann, will play an A-match trial against Peru at the Busan Asiad Stadium at 8 p.m. on Sept. 16. The squad convened at Hotel Lotte in Busan on the 12th and trained at Gudeok Sports Complex in Busan on the 12th, 13th, and 14th.
Prior to the match, Coach Klinsmann held an official press conference at 10:30 a.m. on the 15th at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium.
Klinsmann mentioned Kim Min-jae (27, Napoli), who was unable to join the squad.
Kim won a gold medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games and was granted a special exemption from military service and transferred to the arts and sports staff. As such, Kim will begin basic military training at the Nonsan Army Training Center on the 15th.
[OSEN=Busan, Reporter Lee Seok-woo] On the 15th, the official press conference of the South Korean national soccer team was held at the Busan Asiad Stadium ahead of the Hana Bank Invitational Friendly Match against Peru. Coach Klinsmann and Kim Seung-kyu answered questions from reporters. 2023.06.15 / foto0307@osen.co.kr
“I texted (Kim) on WhatsApp and said, ‘Good luck,'” Klinsmann said. I was also in the military in Germany at the age of 18,” he said.토토사이트
When Klinsmann was 18, Germany was divided into East and West Germany. West Germany had a 15-month conscription system. Klinsmann also experienced military training.
“Back then, it was compulsory to serve in the military, and it will be a very new experience for him. I hope he does well, and I hope he comes back healthy,” Klinsmann said.
[OSEN=Dae-Sun Kim].
Kim Min-jae is one of the hottest center backs in the European summer transfer market. The Italian Serie A announced on its official social media accounts on the 2nd that it has selected Kim as the best defender in Serie A for the 2022-2023 season.
Kim beat out SSC Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and AC Milan flanker Theo Hernandez, who were both on the final three shortlist, to be named the best defender on the Italian stage.
Recognized as the best defender in the league, Kim Min-jae has made history in the Italian league. This is the first time a member of the league’s winning team has won the award since it was created in the 2018-2019 season. He is also the first Asian player to win the award.
Kim joined Napoli in the 2022-2023 season and experienced the Serie A title in his first season with the club. It was the first league title in 33 years, since the 1989-1990 season when Diego Maradona led the team. Kim started 35 of Napoli’s 38 league games, leading them to the title as their starting center back.
[Photo] Captured by the Manchester Evening News
Kim has been strongly linked with Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window. The Manchester Evening News, a local Manchester newspaper, even compared Kim to another center back, Wirien Timber, and highly recommended him to United.
Just when it looked like the deal was going to go through, there was a twist. The German giants, Bayern Munich.
Florian Platenberg, a Bayern Munich reporter who is well versed in the club’s news, posted on his personal social media account on Friday (July 15), “The name of Kim Min-jae has been added to the Munich transfer list. He has an interesting profile and there have been discussions within the club.”
On the same day, Germany’s Bild reported, “The name of Kim Min-jae has been mentioned by the transfer team centered on coaches Uli Hoeness, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Thomas Tuchel,” and “Munich is showing interest in Kim Min-jae”.
Kim’s next destination has attracted the attention of not only Korean soccer fans, but also soccer fans around the world. And Klinsmann was one of them.
[OSEN=Busan, Reporter Lee Seok-woo].
At the official press conference on the 15th, Coach Klinsmann said, “I hope Kim Min-jae comes back healthy and joins us in September.” After throwing out a message of support, he added, “I know you are watching to see if Kim Min-jae will stay or leave for another team. We are also having interesting conversations among the coaching staff,” and said that he is closely watching Kim Min-jae’s progress.