Local media in the United Kingdom have expressed high hopes for SSC Napoli’s Kim Min-jae, who cites legendary defenders as role models.

On April 24 (KST), the British media outlet ‘Daily Mail’ introduced Kim Min-jae, who is close to a move to Manchester United.

“The South Korean defender is said to be inspired by Sergio Ramos and Fabio Cannavaro,” the publication wrote in its profile and characteristics of Kim Min-jae.

Both Ramos and Cannavaro are often mentioned when discussing the greatest defenders in soccer history.

Cannavaro won the 2006 Ballon d’Or after leading his country to victory at the 2006 World Cup in Germany with an ironclad defense.

Since then, no other defender has won the Ballon d’Or, so Cannavaro’s status has only grown. Cannavaro is also known to have recognized the 먹튀검증 talent of Kim Min-jae, who was playing for Beijing Guoan at the time, along with his brother, legendary Napoli defender Paolo Cannavaro, and recommended him to Europe, especially when he was coaching Guangzhou Hengda in China.

Real Madrid legend Ramos also earned a reputation as one of the best defenders in the world during his playing days, winning 22 trophies with Real, including four UEFA Champions League titles. Ramos is also quite the offensive force on set pieces, scoring several memorable goals. Kim Min-jae frequently mentions Ramos as his ideal player.

The media outlet praised Kim’s efforts to learn from the two legendary defenders and expressed excitement to see what he could do once he arrived in the Premier League.

“Early in his professional career, Kim was nicknamed a ‘monster’ for his 6-foot-3 frame,” the outlet explained, “and he is known for his aggressive defense that keeps attackers on their toes.”

“Throughout his career, Kim has been praised for his composure in defense, which will certainly be a good fit for United under Eric Dier.”

“He has a reputation for sprinting up the pitch in possession of the ball, and his height makes him difficult to lose possession of.”

A key defender for Napoli, who were crowned Serie A champions in the 2022/23 season, Kim played a key role in their title triumph and became one of the best defenders in Europe.

His performances attracted interest from Premier League giants Manchester United. The Red Devils are looking to bolster their defense by bringing in Kim, even if it means paying a €50 million buyout clause.

Some have claimed that it is only a matter of time before Kim joins United. Italian publication Il Matino recently reported that “Kim Min-jae has already agreed a transfer with United and has even found a luxury villa in Manchester, England.” His move to Man Utd, which was initially centered on the Italian media, was recently confirmed by transfer market experts Fabrizio Romano and Gianluca Di Marzio, and now the British media is continuing to cover Kim Min-jae.

With Europe’s best defender set to join the Premier League this season, local media in the United Kingdom are still waiting for an official transfer announcement.