Napoli were expected to woo Min Ja Kim to join them, however, the Korean star has his heart set on Ligue 1 Rennes, where not only his former French coach Genesio is located. If all goes well, Min-Ja Kim will make his first appearance in the top five leagues next season and play in the UEFA Cup with Rennes. It's worth noting that his former owners, Beijing Guoan, will also get a cut of the deal, but exactly how and when the payment will be made is still unknown.
Last summer, Kim Min Jae moved to Fenerbahce in Turkey from Guoan, where he had played for two years, and although the transfer fee was only 3 million euros, it was reported that Guoan would get a partial share. This reflects Guoan's confidence in Kim, believing that he can gain a foothold in Europe's top five leagues.
Minjae Kim has lived up to his reputation and despite suffering injuries during his time at Fenerbahce, he has always played consistently whenever he has been on the pitch, attracting the attention of mid to top tier teams in Europe's top five leagues, including Napoli in Serie A and Rennes in Ligue 1. Napoli, especially with Koulibaly joining Chelsea, are in desperate need of a strong center back, and Spalletti believes that Minjae Kim is just the man for the job. However, Rennes seem to be closer to signing him.
Latest news suggests that Rennes have agreed on personal terms with Minjae Kim. Transfer experts Romano and Scilla have both revealed that Rennes will pay €20 million to directly activate Minjae Kim's release clause. Minjae Kim is expected to sign a four-year contract with Rennes earning €2.5 million per year. Rennes was close to signing Umtiti, but gave up due to health issues, and if they succeed in signing Kim Min Jae, they will further strengthen the team's backline.
Min-Ja Kim chose Rennes for contractual reasons and perhaps because he could be reunited with Genesio. Genesio coached at Guiao for nearly a year and a half and spoke highly of Minjae Kim's abilities. Now, the two have joined forces again, a continuation of a mentor-pupil relationship. Rennes has extended his contract with Genesio until 2025, so if all goes well, Kim will continue to play under his mentor for years to come.
Last season, Kim made 39 appearances for Fenerbahce, scoring 1 goal and earning 6 yellow cards, and was a key player in the team's runners-up finish in the league. If this transfer is successful, the national security will also get a share, because Kim Min Ja joined Fenerbahce, there is a second transfer share of the terms, but Rennes payment method and time is not yet clear.
