“Monster” defender Shin Tae-yong’s protégé is one step away from joining Napoli, medical test this week

Kim Min-jae, who was a former foster child of Indonesian national team coach Shin Tae-yong in South Korea, is one step away from joining ambitious Italian Serie A club Napoli.

A number of reports say that the tall defender will undergo medical tests in Naples this week.

Kim, who is currently defending Fenerbahce, is not only interested in Napoli. French Ligue 1 club Rennes are also interested. Several clubs from the English Premier League are also said to be monitoring the player’s situation.

Kim has buy-out clause in the Turkish club for 19.5 million euros. Napoli do not mind submitting a bid proposal worth 20 million euros.

Napoli’s back line is currently empty following the departure of Kalidou Koulibaly to Chelsea. Kim is projected to fill the void. This means that Tae-yong’s former foster child will immediately become a core player Parthenopei.

Kim is nicknamed “Monster”. Apart from his large figure, he is also tough in guarding the back line of his team. Last August, Fenerbahce signed him from Beijing Guoan, where he last played for two seasons at the club.

At that time, he was also briefly linked with a row of top European clubs such as FC Porto, Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur. However, it was Fenerbahce who managed to get his signature.

Last January, Fenerbahce had rejected Napoli’s approach. But now, Parthenopei seems to be able to realize the signing of Kim as the defender will undergo medical tests.

Tae-yong, before coaching the Indonesian national team, coached Kim in South Korea between 2017 and 2018.

Last 2018, he won glory in Indonesia by winning the 2018 Asian Games champion after winning the final match against Japan at the Pakansari Stadium, Bogor.