Back home in the Far East, they call Napoli’s Kim Min-Jae ‘the South Korean Virgil van Dijk’. Now, following a meeting between the Serie A leaders and Liverpool at Anfield during the Champions League group-stages, we know why.
It was the sort of performance reminiscent of Liverpool’s totemic Dutchman at his 2019 best. Unfazed, un-flabbable, often unbeatable. Going about his business with a grace and an elegance not often associated with footballers of his size, the 6ft 3ins Kim is a Rolls Royce of a footballer in a Range Rover’s frame.
There was nothing overly flashy about the way he went about his business on Merseyside; the South Korean van Dijk going head-to-head with the original. But Kim is the sort of uber-composed centre-half who makes defending look like second nature.
In the right place, at the right time, all the time.
Time again, he would snuff out a Liverpool attack with his expert positional sense, shrugging Mo Salah or Roberto Firmino aside without breaking sweat. With all eyes firmly fixed on his fellow Napoli newcomer Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, the immediate impact Kim has made at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona continues to go somewhat under the radar.
But if Kvaratskhelia is the most inspired pound-for-pound signing made by any club in Europe last summer, then a £16 million arrival from Fenerbahce won’t be too far behind.
Everton and Tottenham Hotspur could have had Napoli’s Kim Min-Jae
“We all had doubts about Kim after the talisman (Kalidou Koulibaly) left,” says Serie A legend Beppe Bergomi. “(But) he never makes mistakes.
“Maybe, in the build-up, he is less strong than Koulibaly. But, defensively, he is more careful. And that, for a defender, is very important.”
“Kim has this incredible strength and speed,” adds coach Luciano Spalletti (Football Italia). “As soon as he senses danger, he is off after it at double speed.”
Napoli’s remarkable emergence as one of the most fearsome sides in Europe is testament not only to Spalletti’s expert management, but also an the outstanding summer of recruitment presided over by director Cristiano Guintoli and co. Kvaratskhelia joined for just £9 million from Georgian football. Kim, meanwhile, was plying his trade in China just two years ago.
And, after both Everton and Tottenham Hotspur decided against taking a punt on a player totally unproven at the highest level until very recently, both Kim and Kvaratskhelia are living proof that value and star quality can be found in less obvious markets.
The ‘South Korean Virgil van Dijk’
“Jose Mourinho wanted Kim Min-Jae a year ago,” Fenerbahce president Ali Koc revealed a couple of months ago. “But (Spurs) did not pay the 14 million euros.”
A decision Tottenham, having been alerted to Kim’s talents by South Korea team-mate Heung Min Son, have come to regret (90Min). Spurs are not the only Premier League club wishing they could turn back the clock either.
“I followed (Kim) at Everton three years ago,” recalls former Toffees scout Carlo Jacomuzzi. “We had a good opinion of the boy. But it seemed too big a leap for him to move from Asia to Europe.
“Now, having had the experience in Turkey, I think he is ready for Serie A.”
Their loss is most certainly Napoli’s gain.
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