The next destination for ‘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 take on Peru at 8 p.m. on Sept. 16 at the Busan Asiad Stadium in an A-match trial. 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 a result, he will begin basic military training at the Nonsan Army Training Center from the 15th.

“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.

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.

Kim 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 February 2 that it has named 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 won 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 the team to the title as their starting center back.

Kim was strongly linked with Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window. The Manchester Evening News, a local Manchester newspaper, even compared him to another center back, Wierien 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 appeared on 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”.토토사이트

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.

At the official press conference on the 15th, Klinsmann said, “I hope Kim Min-jae comes back healthy and joins us in September,” and then added, “I know you’re all watching to see if he stays or goes to another team. We are also having interesting conversations among the coaching staff,” and said that he is closely watching Kim Min-jae’s progress.