Now worth €60m
Napoli undoubtedly made history and won the hearts of football fans across the world this year, when Luciano Spalletti and his side marched to their first Serie A title in over 30 years, finishing the league campaign an impressive 16 points ahead of second-placed Lazio in the Italian top-flight. And much of the success can be put down to the club boasting a number of star players.
For example, the club can lay claim to one of the best strikers in the world and the most valuable Serie A player since Transfermarkt records began in Victor Osimhen, alongside fellow attacking star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. However, while the attacking pair may have hogged most of the applause when the club celebrated their title through the streets of Naples, fans will know that a certain defender was just as crucial to them winning the scudetto. That was, of course, South Korean defender Min-jae Kim.
What makes Min-jae Kim so impressive?
As the linchpin at the heart of Napoli’s defence, Kim has thrived in Italian football thanks to his remarkable physical attributes and his ability to impose himself on opposing strikers. “They call him “the Monster” because he is a physically imposing central defender, known for his rough and tough style of play,” notes Jatin Dietl, Transfermarkt’s Area Manager for Italy. “But he combines this characteristic with his tendency to advance with the ball and good technique (for a defender).”
While a height of 1.9 metres (6ft2) doesn’t make Kim the tallest defender in Serie A, he more than compensates for it with a smart reading of the game. The 26-year-old may not rank in the top 25 in the league for total aerial duels attempted, but he is in the top 15 for the percentage of duels won. When we couple that with the fact that he also finished in the top 10 for total interceptions and blocked shots, it goes some way to underlining the points: more often than not he’s in the right place at the right time. “Kim has the characteristics of a modern defender, attacks very high and looks to anticipate the ball,” adds Dietl. “If I had to choose just one adjective to describe him I would say reliable.”
What makes Kim’s achievements all the more impressive is that this title-winning campaign was also his first in Italian football. So not only has the South Korean international hit the ground running in Serie A, but he has also wasted no time in overtaking some of the more established defenders in a league once famed for developing players in that position. “His quick impact was very very impressive,” notes Dietl. “I don’t remember other players in the past, who have become the best centre-back in the league in their very first season. Even big names like [Matthijs] De Ligt had their problems adapting.”
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Could Min-jae Kim leave Napoli this summer?
Kim’s remarkable adaptability will undoubtedly come as welcome news to some of Europe’s biggest clubs, which have wasted no time at all in reportedly their interest in the player. Reports in Italy have spent much of 2023 suggesting that the central defender was set for a move to Manchester United, however it now seems like the defender has set his sights on a move to Germany. According to Kicker, Bayern Munich and the Kim have reached an agreement over personal terms, with the Bundesliga giants now set to make an offer for the player that Napoli may not be able to reject.
“I don’t think Napoli would sell Kim under normal circumstances, they are in a good financial position and the South Korean is a central player,” adds Dietl when asked about Kim’s status. “But unfortunately, for Napoli, according to various media reports, there seems to be an exit clause in his contract. As far as the amount is concerned, reports differ, but probably around €50m. A sum that otherwise would not cause Napoli to waver.” Indeed, numerous reports in England and Germany have reported that Kim’s release clause now stands at €50m and it seems as though Bayern will have no problem matching that demand.
Whether the release clause does exist and if it would be enough to convince Kim to depart Napoli remains to be seen, but fans of the Italian club can at least wait in hope that the central defender will be around next season to help them defend their Serie A title. If not, it seems almost certain that the 26-year-old defender would thrive in Germany or England just as comfortable as he has done in Italian football to remarkable results.
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