*This content was translated by AI.
What a relief. It is reported that the injury condition of 'monster defender' Kim Min-jae (30, Bayern Munich), who injured his knee, is not serious.
On the 12th (Korean time), German outlet Bavarian Football reported, "Defender Kim Min-jae is free from injury fears," adding, "Munich shared good news regarding its injury list. Kim Min-jae, who was substituted at halftime due to a knee issue in last weekend's match against Wolfsburg, was confirmed via MRI to have no abnormalities, fortunately."
Previously, on the 10th, Kim Min-jae started in an away match against Wolfsburg in the 33rd round of the German Bundesliga, contributing to his team's 1-0 victory. However, he was substituted for Dayot Upamecano right at the start of the second half. After the match, Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany stated it was "to prevent Kim Min-jae from getting injured."
This was an especially regrettable moment since Kim Min-jae had shown good form prior to the injury. In the Wolfsburg match, Kim Min-jae recorded 65 ball touches, a 96% pass success rate (53 successful passes out of 55 attempts), one tackle, two clearances, and two interceptions. He also won one ground duel and one aerial duel. At the time, media outlets expressed regret, noting, "Kim Min-jae displayed one of his best performances of the season before being substituted."
The injury to Kim Min-jae was also not welcome news for the South Korean national football team. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America just about a month away, a prolonged recovery period would leave insufficient time to check his fitness and match sharpness.
Fortunately, Kim Min-jae is expected to participate in the North American World Cup without major injury issues. He is also likely to play in the remaining fixtures for his club, Munich. Having already secured the Bundesliga title, Munich will play its final league match against FC Cologne on the 16th. On the 24th, it will face Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) final.
Regarding Kim Min-jae's physical condition, the media stated, "This is very encouraging news for Munich. Leon Goretzka, who was substituted at halftime due to dizziness, and Kim Min-jae are expected to play in the remaining matches." The outlet added, "Both Kim Min-jae and Goretzka are in good condition and are expected to play in the matches against Cologne and Stuttgart."
This season, Kim Min-jae has been relegated to a 'third option.' Manager Kompany has operated the team this season with Jonathan Tah and Dayot Upamecano as the starting center-backs. However, after securing the Bundesliga title and being eliminated in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, the club appears to be increasing playing time for other players such as Kim Min-jae and Hiroki Ito. Kim Min-jae could play in both of the remaining two matches. Goretzka, who is linked with a move to Italian club AC Milan, is also expected to have time to say goodbye to Bayern Munich fans.
The media reported, "For Goretzka, the remaining two matches will be his last stage wearing the Munich jersey, but Kim Min-jae's future remains uncertain. While some reports suggest Munich may put Kim Min-jae on the transfer market, others claim that Kim Min-jae is currently satisfied with his role."
It further added, "Regardless of how the situation unfolds, manager Kompany has been able to utilize as many options as possible in the final matches of the season. This is very fortunate."
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
