Man Utd trying to sign ‘best centre-back in the world’

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 12 Mar 2023 20:35 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United transfer target Kim Min-Jae is “the best centre-back in the world”, according his Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti.

Min-Jae has been an absolute revelation since joining Napoli from Fenerbahce for €18 million last summer.

He was signed as a replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly, who left after eight years to join Chelsea, but the South Korean has been magnificent at the heart of Napoli’s defence.

Who is Kim Min-Jae? The €50m Napoli ‘monster’ wanted by Man Utd

This has led to interest from Europe’s biggest clubs, with multiple sources reporting that Man Utd wish to sign Kim at the end of the season.

And, according to Spalletti, Kim is now the best in the world in his role.

What did Spalletti say about Kim Min-Jae

“Kim does at least 20 incredible things per game, for me he truly is the best centre-back in the world,” Spalletti said after Napoli’s 2-0 win over Atalanta on Sunday.

“When he starts the run with the ball at his feet, he can get it into the opposition penalty area in five seconds flat.”

Man Utd are aware that Kim has a minimum fee release clause in his contract.

The terms of Kim Min-Jae's contract

“The clause is only valid for foreign clubs and it’s accessible in a window in July, for just 15 days,” Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli said before Christmas of the clause.

“Is the clause €50m? It’s variable, it depends on the revenues of the potential buyer. It’s all theoretical given that we are already thinking about changing these terms.”

Standing at 6ft 4in, Kim is a physically imposing and aggressive defender who is excellent in the air and brave in the tackle.

Napoli have been one of the most impressive teams in Europe this season. They are top of Serie A, 18 points clear of Inter.

.

They also are doing well in the Champions League, topping their group ahead of last year’s runners-up Liverpool and beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 away in the first leg of the last-16.

Kim has been one of their standout players this season, and he also played an important role in South Korea making it to the last-16 of the World Cup where they lost to Brazil.

Man Utd face competition from Real Madrid, who see the defender as a possible replacement for Nacho at the end of the season.