Napoli’s Serie A stalwart Kim Min Jae admits he is ‘bothered’ by reports linking him with a move away when quizzed about interest from Premier League giants Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, speaking to Korean TV show You Quiz.
Rumours usually come hand-in-hand with success.
Take Napoli, for instance. While cruising at the top of the Serie A table, and eyeing a first Scudetto since the Diego Maradona heydey, Luciano Spalletti’s side have been forced to contend with ever-increasing speculation surrounding the likes of Victor Osimhen, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and arguably the most in-form centre-back in the country; South Korean powerhouse Kim Min Jae.
According to Italian publication Si Gonfia la Rete, Tottenham are willing to trigger Kim’s affordable £43 million release clause. An international team-mate of Heung-Min Son, Kim is a long-term target of the North London club.
During his time in Turkey, Fenerbahce’s president confirmed interest from a Spurs side then under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho.
The likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid have reportedly joined the race too. Kim impressed during South Korea’s run to the Qatar World Cup last 16.
The player himself, however, remains focused on the task at hand. Ending Napoli’s long wait for a Serie A title.
Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United like Kim Min-Jae of Serie A giants Napoli
“There are a lot of market stories around me,” Kim says, via Calciomercato. “But it’s only been six months at Napoli. I avoid interviews and one of the reasons is that the rumours about (my future) bother me.”
At 26, Kim’s emergence as an elite-level central defender in a major leagues has been a long time in coming.
Carlo Jacomuzzi, a former Everton scout, admitted that he kept an eye on Kim for the Toffees during his time at Chinese outfit Beijing Guaon. Everton, however, decided against a cut-price move due to concerns that he would not be able to handle the step up to European football.
Doubts that Kim has most certainly dispelled at Napoli.
“Kim has this incredible strength and speed,” Spalletti tells Football Italia. “As soon as he senses danger, he is off after it at double speed.”
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