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Has "Monster Defender" Kim Min-jae (28), who redrew his leap forward as a starting member of Bayern Munich under Coach Bang Sang-Kongfani, faced with another challenge?


Kim was criticized three days ago for making an error-prone play in the opening match of the German Bundesliga in 2024-2025 season with Wolfsburg. Notably, he made a back pass in the 10th minute of the second half when the score was 1-1, before conceding the ball to his opponent Patric Beamer. Lobro Mayer made a come-from-behind goal. He was substituted by Eric Dier in the 36th minute of the second half, and was withdrawn. The team reversed the score to 3-2 to win, but criticism against Kim was rampant.

Notably, German soccer legend Lothar Mateus told the German edition of Sky Sports that "it is impossible to play as Kim Min-jae did for Napoli (Italy), his former team. He showed completely different performances in Munich."

However, some local media mentioned that Kim Min-jae played in the opening game with a thigh injury. As news of his absence from Munich training has been reported, attention is being paid to the actual extent of his injury.

In addition, Kim Min-jae was named in the national soccer team's Hong Myung-bo team, which will play in the first and second rounds of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup against Oman on the 10th of next month (Seoul).

Kim Min-jae, who left Naples and entered Munich last season, spent the longest season sitting on the bench since entering Europe due to difficulties in competing for the starting lineup. He showed off good energy from the pre-season as he gained the trust of former defender Kongpani this season, but he is reeling unexpectedly early.

Kim Min-jae's condition is expected to be more concrete in the second round home game against Freiburg, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd before the national team's call-up.