The possibility of becoming Manchester United’s “new No. 3” has increased.
“Kim Min-jae (26, Napoli), who is close to a move to Manchester United, is likely to be given the number three shirt,” the Express reported on July 7. The current number three is Eric Bailly.
Kim has had a breakout year. He joined Napoli last summer and quickly became a regular starter. In his debut season in Europe’s big leagues, he didn’t need an adjustment period. At 6-foot-3, he used his powerful physicality to dominate opposing strikers, while his pace and defensive intelligence made him a reliable player 먹튀검증.
In total, he has made 45 appearances, scoring two goals and providing two assists. He was recently named the Italian Serie A Defender of the Year. Napoli won their first league title in 33 years thanks to Kim’s performance.
This has attracted interest from Manchester United, Newcastle, and Paris Saint-Germain. The Red Devils have been particularly active. According to local reports, they have been monitoring Kim since October last year. They are willing to pay a buyout of around 45 million euros (approximately KRW 72.8 billion).
If they do sign him, they might give him the number 3 jersey. Although it’s not common, the number 3 in soccer is usually reserved for the first-choice defender. This is where we can see United’s expectations. Kim Min-Jae even wore the number 3 for Napoli this season.
What’s more, the number 3 is likely to be vacant soon. The current number three, Bailly, is expected to return on loan soon. He joined United in 2016 with high expectations, but his performances were minimal. His defensive performances got worse and worse. Injuries became more frequent and he became a forgotten player. Last summer, he went on loan to Olympique Marseille (France), but only made 23 appearances. He is now back at United.
The source added: “United are planning to offload Bailly. If Bai leaves, Kim Min-jae will take over the No. 3 role.”