One of the surprises of Napoli, but in general of all Serie A is undoubtedly Kim Min-jae. The Korean centre-back closed the first part of the season as an absolute protagonist. Thanks to his performance and to his continuity he immediately managed to become a pillar of Luciano Spalletti’s defence.
However, the ex Fenerbahce is not a real discovery by Giuntoliindeed to the microphones of CRC during the transmission The net swells, interviewed And Raffaele Auriemmahe intervened Massimiliano Maddaloni. The latter five years ago already reported Kim who played in the Chinese championship. Here are his statements:
Naples, Kim’s background: “I reported it five years ago”
“5 years ago I reported Kim to Giuntoli. I was in China and I was walking around the fields and watching the players I fell in love with this centre-back.
Later we played against South Korea and Kim also scored for us. I reported it to Giuntoli and after ten days he called me saying that he couldn’t take it because he was from outside the EU. In the summer she called me and said she sold Koulibaly, so he wanted to get Kim. He asked me for information and I told him that this footballer had an incredible mentality. He told me he would take it.
The players that are emerging now are all right choices by Giuntoli who is proving to be the best sports manager in Italy. Korean and Japanese players adapt much more easily to the top European leagues, just see that there are so many. Giuntoli saw talent in Kim. And she, in fact, is earning everyone’s esteem day after day. Spalletti himself attributes to Kim qualities that are unobtainable.
He has structure, but he’s fast, he knows how to mark, he knows how to adapt to the two roles of central defence. He is a player who has great skills and personality in managing the ball. I think he is an active leader compared to Koulibaly and Albiol. He is a leader who on the field for performance becomes a leader towards his teammates who often seek him out. He also manages to play certain balls first that are played by the midfielders.
He is a player who is unlikely to make mistakes, having a centre-back like him who has the ability
to play the ball and make few mistakes is not a common thing. Napoli has a very specific team identity, even with absences it is an almost perfect machine and everyone who plays does their part. South Korea is a very difficult team to face”
Lorenzo Golino
