It is reported that Kim Min-jae (27, Napoli) has arrived in South Korea after saying goodbye to his team Napoli.
“Kim Min-jae said goodbye to his teammates and left Napoli,” Italian media outlet Calcio Napoli 24 reported on June 6 (KST).
According to the media, he left his home in Posillipo in the early afternoon of the previous day.
“Kim Min-jae has packed all his things. He will leave Napoli to sign with Manchester United (hereinafter referred to as Man United),” adding, “We are waiting for the official announcement in mid-July.” It also added that Kim’s departure from Napoli is an inevitable reality.
Kim has been strongly linked to the English Premier League’s Manchester United, and his upcoming summer move is highly likely.
After leaving Napoli, Kim briefly returned to South Korea via Incheon International Airport this afternoon. This is to join a training center for basic military training on June 15.
He will be unavailable for the June 16 match against Peru and the domestic trials against El Salvador on June 20.
Kim Min-jae, a gold medalist at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, was granted a special exemption from military service and transferred to the arts and sports category.
Athletes who qualify for the arts and physical education program must undergo three weeks of basic military training within one year of registration.
Last summer, he was unable to enter the training center due to injury surgery. After undergoing surgery, Kim immediately registered as an artistic and athletic agent. He will have to undergo three weeks of military training within a year, and his entry date has been confirmed for mid-June.
The season couldn’t have gone any better for Kim, who was recognized for his performance with the ‘Award’ at the end of the league.
After joining Napoli from Fenerbahçe (Turkkiye) ahead of the 2022-2023 season, the defender helped the club win its first Serie A title in 33 years with his unflappable defense.
In 35 league appearances, Kim scored two goals and provided two assists and helped Napoli concede the fewest goals in the league (28).
Kim Min-jae played 3,054 minutes in 35 league games this season. He scored two goals and provided two assists, while also making 1.6 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 3.5 clearances, and 0.7 shot blocks per game.
On Feb. 2, he was honored as the first Asian player to be named Serie A’s Best Defender. This is the first time the award, which was established in the 2018-2019 season, has been given to a member of the winning team. Kim Min-jae is also the first Asian player to win the award.
When Serie A announced the award, the organization applauded Kim, saying, “Congratulations on a great debut.” Italian media outlet Tuttone Napoli also shared the news, calling Kim “the best defender in Serie A”.
On June 5, Korean national soccer team coach Jürgen Klinsmann announced the roster for the June A match and congratulated Kim, saying, “It was a happy and proud moment to see Kim lift the Serie A championship trophy. He has made an achievement that will be remembered for the rest of his life.”토토사이트
In addition, Kim was named to the Serie A Team of the Year. The league’s best 11.
At Incheon Airport, Kim was greeted with the winner’s medal around his neck and the best defender trophy in his hand. He was greeted with cheers from the fans.