Departure would be a “big surprise”
Tuchel responds to Kimmich rumors
7/19/2023 7:21 am
Anything is possible in football during the transfer window. For FC Bayern, the unthinkable months ago is therefore in the air: the possible departure of Joshua Kimmich. Coach Thomas Tuchel thinks that’s unlikely, but doesn’t rule anything out.
For coach Thomas Tuchel from Bayern Munich, the departure of national soccer player Joshua Kimmich would be “a big surprise”. However, he did not want to rule out that the 28-year-old would leave the German record champions this summer. “My goodness, a transfer period is a transfer period,” said Tuchel on the sidelines of the training camp at Tegernsee, “that’s why I said in general: Anything is always possible. I’m not going to deny it, that doesn’t make any sense.”
The trade journal “Kicker” had reported that Bayern could be willing to talk to Kimmich if there was a lucrative offer. They are still looking for reinforcements in his defensive midfield position, with French international Aurelien Tchouameni currently being traded by Real Madrid.
A transfer “always involves three parties,” said Tuchel, “if we have a contract and don’t want it, nobody will go.” Kimmich is tied until 2025. “We work together with Jo here, there is absolutely no reason to comment on that,” added Tuchel. Recently, FC Barcelona and its coach Xavi had expressed a strong interest in Kimmich.
Kim wears a special shirt number
Tuchel raved about new signing Min-Jae Kim. “Min-Jae has had a sensational season in the Champions League and La Liga, shooting clean at the highest level. A top signing.” The South Korean international has “a very unusual career, but it just shows that he has pushed through and his quality has asserted itself”. Kim is “big, fast, super reliable” and “a real guy”.
The new defense chief traveled to the training camp at Tegernsee at his own request – Tuchel had given him the option of not joining until the trip to Asia (July 24th to August 3rd). “It shows how seriously he takes it,” he said. In the 27-0 (18-0) win against FC Rottach-Egern from the district class, Kim wasn’t involved yet, but he wants to start training after that.
The central defender from SSC Napoli was signed on Tuesday evening as the third newcomer this summer. Kim signed with the German record champions until June 30, 2028. Munich had previously signed Konrad Laimer (contract until 2027) and Raphaël Guerreiro (until 2026). Kim will wear shirt number 3 in Munich, a number with a long history. Players like Paul Breitner, Bixente Lizarazu and Lucio played with this number.