‘Iron Pillar’ Kim Min-jae (27, Napoli) has been strongly linked with Manchester United. Even his high buyout clause doesn’t seem to be a deterrent. However메이저놀이터, the problem lies elsewhere. If we look into the internal situation of Manchester United, where there is a ‘sale issue’, there is a possibility that the connection between Manchester United and Kim Min-jae will be severed.
“Kim Min-jae, who joined Napoli last summer, has a buyout clause, which allows him to move to a club outside of Serie A if a club pays 50 million euros ($71.1 billion),” said foreign media outlet ‘Italy Football’ on July 24, citing Italian media outlet ‘Corriere dello Sport’, adding, “Man United wants to do this. We expect to finalize a deal for Kim in the first two weeks of July.”
Kim’s buyout clause is said to be triggered for a limited period of two weeks in early July. “If Man United triggers the buyout clause, Kim will leave Napoli,” predicted ‘Italy Football’. Kim has said that his “dream stage” is the English Premier League.
British media outlet The Mirror also backed Kim’s move to Man United. “United are busy planning for the upcoming summer transfer window,” the publication said on May 25, hinting that “they want a world-class center forward and three or four more signings.” The ‘Daily Mail’ also reported on the 24th that “United are close to signing ‘monster’ Kim Min-jae”.
[Photo] Kim Min-jae / ⓒGettyimages (All rights reserved)
[Photo] Kim Min-jae / ⓒGettyimages (All rights reserved)
[Photo] Kim Min-jae / ⓒGettyimages (All rights reserved)
After playing in the Korean K League 1 with Jeonbuk Hyundai and the Chinese Super League, Kim joined Fenerbahçe in 2021.
Just one season after joining the club, Kim won the Italian Serie A title. In 33 league appearances, he scored two goals and provided two assists to help the team reach the top of the table. Backed by a solid defense, Napoli won the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years since the 1989-1990 season, when the late Diego Maradona was a legend.
With United perceived to be waiting for July to get their hands on Kim, the mood at the club is not good. It’s a mess.
The Mirror reports that United are preparing for the summer transfer window, but adds that “United manager Eric ten Hagh has no idea how much money the club will have available.” In other words, while the outside world is reporting that United will pay a “buyout” for Kim, the manager doesn’t know what’s going on at the club, as the club’s owner for next season hasn’t been named.
[Photo] The Glazer family / ⓒGettyimages (All rights reserved)
The club is owned by the Glazer family and is up for sale this summer. According to the Mirror, the deadline for the third round of bids for the club was last month’s 28th.
However, on April 16, new news broke. The Qatari capital that wants to buy the club has increased its bid. Even after the deadline, the race is still on.
According to The Guardian, a consortium led by Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) Chairman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Alsani has now offered £5.5 billion (about $9.211 trillion) for the club, an increase of £800 million from its previous offer.
The Qatari capital’s new offer is seen as an attempt to outbid ‘takeover rival’ Ineos, which is headed by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.
Mr. Ratcliffe, a “Man United fanatic,” is only asking for a majority stake, unlike the Qataris, who want a “100 percent stake. Even after the acquisition, the current owners, the Glazer family, will still have some influence for the time being.
The fate of the club seemed to be tilted in Ratcliffe’s favor when British media outlet The Sun reported on the 10th that “the Glazers have identified Ineos, who have made a favorable offer for the club, as their preferred bidder.”
[Photo] Old Trafford, home of Manchester United / ⓒGettyimages (All rights reserved)
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (All rights reserved)
The Guardian initially agreed, but after the Qatari capital upped its bid, the paper said it was “unfortunately untrue” and that the club’s new owner was unknown.
“The Glazers are in no rush to sell,” said the Mirror on May 25, adding that “the uncertainty surrounding the takeover is affecting the (signing) situation.” While the news of Kim Min-jae’s departure to Man Utd continues to emerge through the media, it is unclear who will make the final decision on his departure. The Mirror reports that the Glazer family is still involved in the player’s future, but Van Gaal says he hopes “a new owner will appear as soon as possible” so that “we can discuss the transfer”.