This summer’s European soccer transfer market has been buzzing with speculation that Lee Kang-in, 22, of Mallorca, will join French giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
While no official announcement has been made, the speculation that Lee could fill the void left by legendary Lionel Messi’s departure to Inter Miami was enough to draw attention. Fans are already asking what role Lee will play at PSG.
The stage is set for the national soccer team to make its presence felt. On June 16 at 8 p.m., the national team will face Peru in an A-match trial at the Busan Asiad Stadium.
Lee is likely to lead South Korea’s attack against Peru in place of Son Heung-min (Tottenham), who is expected to miss the game due to a sports hernia.
National team coach Jürgen Klinsmann said at the official press conference on Friday, “Son Heung-min will be on the bench. “We’re thinking about Plan A for tomorrow, but of course we have to prepare Plan B and C as well. The players who play the game can still change in the future.”
On the soccer field, Klinsmann’s Plan B is Lee Kang-in and Plan C is Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton). While Lee is highly regarded for his ability to orchestrate an attack alongside his technical prowess, Hwang can contribute to the attack with his quick feet like Son Heung-min.
The prioritization of Lee Kang-in was influenced by Klinsmann’s tactical inclinations. In March, Klinsmann used Son Heung-min as more of a position-agnostic freeroller, and it worked, as Lee is the type of player who can maximize his performance when he is free to play.
A prime example of this was the second group game against Ghana at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (2-3 loss). Cho Kyu-sung (Jeonbuk) was the star of the show with his multi-goal performance, but it was Lee Kang-in who changed the course of the game after coming on as a substitute and playing 33 minutes. He was able to move freely between the left and right flanks and up front, showing off his talents to the fullest and earning himself a starting spot in the next game.
Although he didn’t record an offensive point against Uruguay in March under Klinsmann, Lee proved his presence all over the pitch. 토토사이트
The versatility of Lee’s position is evident in his performances in the Spanish Primera Liga. In the 2022-2023 season, Lee played 36 regular-season games, scoring a “career-high” six goals and six assists.
He started the most games (15) on the left wing (1 assist), but also played in a variety of positions, including attacking midfield (7 games – 3 goals, 1 assist), forward (5 games – 1 goal, 2 assists), right wing (4 games – 1 assist), and shadow striker (3 games – 1 goal, 1 assist). No matter where he plays, he does his job.
In the long run, Lee Kang-in’s pre-roll is a task for the 2026 North and Central American World Cup. In three years, Lee will be at his peak in terms of skill, experience, and physicality. This is the way to go, as he can be a big part of the national team. The Peru game may be the first chance to see what the future holds for Korean soccer.