Man City ‘more likely than Man Utd’ to sign ‘best defender in the world’

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 14 May 2023 17:13 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester City are more likely than Manchester United to sign Napoli sensation Kim Min-Jae, according to football agent Vincenzo Morabito.

Until now, Man Utd have been considered favourites to buy the South Korea central defender this summer.

United are understood to have already opened preliminary talks with player and club, with reports they have offered to double the player’s wages.

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

Kim has also been linked to Liverpool and Real Madrid but Italian agent Morabito believes that City are ahead in the race for the 26-year-old.

What did Morabito say about Kim?

“The fans shouldn’t get angry, it’s normal that we talk about the transfer market now. Kim? I think Manchester City is more likely than United,” Morabito said to Radio Kiss Kiss.

Min-Jae has been an absolute revelation since joining Napoli from Fenerbahce for €18 million last summer, helping the club to their first Scudetto in 33 years.

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

According to Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti, Kim is now the best in the world in his role.

“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 in March.

Kim has a minimum fee release clause in his contract of €50 million.

The terms of Kim Min-Jae's Napoli 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.”