South Korean defender Kim Min-jae’s move to Bayern Munich has sparked discussions among Chinese netizens, as he had been playing for Beijing Guoan in the Chinese Super League just two years ago. Some netizens jokingly referred to Kim Min-jae as the disciple of Yu Dabao, a Chinese player who transitioned from a forward to a center-back, implying that Kim Min-jae developed his defensive skills under Yu Dabao’s tutelage.
However, these remarks were sarcastic rather than praising Yu Dabao as a defensive mentor. They were instead mocking the fact that a Chinese player, who had previously played as a forward, was now in his late career playing as a center-back. Three years ago, Kim Min-jae had publicly criticized his Beijing Guoan teammates, claiming that their lack of awareness on the field made him “exhausted” and forced him to do the work of two players.
Kim Min-jae rose to fame while playing for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and made a move to Beijing Guoan in 2019 for €5.25 million. After two and a half years with Beijing Guoan, his value dropped, and he transferred to Turkish club Fenerbahçe for €3 million. In just one season in the Turkish Super Lig, the 1.9-meter tall South Korean international caught the attention of Napoli in Serie A, who secured his services for a reported transfer fee of €18 million in the summer of 2022.
During his last season at Napoli, Kim Min-jae played a crucial role in their Serie A triumph, elevating his career further and attracting the interest of Bayern Munich, who signed him for €50 million to compete in the Bundesliga. This marked a staggering 16-fold increase in his transfer value compared to just two years ago.
Many Chinese netizens expressed joy over Kim Min-jae’s move to Bayern Munich, and their comments often included mentions of Yu Dabao. On platforms like Weibo, Dongqiudi, and Hupu, numerous remarks referred to Yu Dabao’s name, such as “Yu Dabao’s contribution cannot be ignored,” “Give coach Yu Dabao a fee of 50,000 for nurturing,” “Young Kim Min-jae learned defensive skills from Yu Dabao,” “He was brought up by Yu Dabao little by little,” “Thanks to Dabao’s training,” and “Appreciate Dabao’s cultivation.”
So, how did Yu Dabao help Kim Min-jae’s growth? It appears that netizens were using Kim Min-jae’s case to mock Yu Dabao. During Kim Min-jae’s time at Beijing Guoan, the team faced a shortage of defenders, leading to Yu Dabao, originally a forward, being deployed as a center-back to partner with Kim Min-jae. Kim Min-jae had previously complained about the abilities of his teammates, as he often found himself having to cover for their deficiencies.
In a 2020 interview with a South Korean TV station when he was 23 years old, Kim Min-jae criticized his Beijing Guoan defensive teammates, stating, “The entire backline consists of former forwards. When you analyze it from a defensive perspective, there will be issues with their understanding of defense. Although they are national team players, their awareness of covering is lacking.” It is believed he was referring to Yu Dabao.
Kim Min-jae also mentioned in the program that he felt more comfortable playing for the South Korean national team, where sometimes foreign players would signal when they were tired and needed a break, while Chinese players might not fully grasp such situations.
Kim Min-jae asserted that Chinese players were not up to the required level and that playing in the Chinese Super League was physically demanding, often forcing him to “do the work of two players.” However, it’s worth noting that his criticism wasn’t limited to Chinese players; he had also previously criticized his former Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors teammate, Kim Jin-su, for not tracking back and leaving him to cover defensively.
At the time, Chinese media and the football community perceived Kim Min-jae as disrespectful to his teammates, attributing it to his low emotional intelligence. However, Chinese netizens saw his remarks as straightforward and believed that Chinese players should take a serious look at their performance compared to foreign players. Kim Min-jae subsequently offered verbal apologies to his club and teammates and followed up with a written apology to Beijing Guoan through a translator.
In that interview three years ago, he expressed his eagerness to play in Europe and acknowledged that he needed to improve his passing, physicality, and football intelligence to establish himself in Europe. It is surprising that he achieved this goal so quickly, reaching the pinnacle of European football by joining a top club like Bayern Munich for successive increases in his transfer value every year.