"Lee Kang-in's 'bench humiliation' finally erupts: Declares departure from PSG to join Atletico... 'He's the successor to Griezmann, why not spend 86.8 billion won?'"

*This content was translated by AI.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker Lee Kang-in (25) has been linked with a potential return to La Liga.

France's "L'Equipe" reported on the 11th (Korean time) that "Lee Kang-in and Lucas Beraldo have expressed their desire to leave the club, feeling limited in their positions within PSG."

According to reports, the two are reportedly dissatisfied with their situation, as they have not been guaranteed sufficient playing time amidst fierce competition for starting positions within the team.

The media reported that "Lee Kang-in's decision to transfer appears to have been decisively influenced by recent changes in the team's attacking lineup," adding that "Lee Kang-in, who has served as a source of creativity for the team, has been pushed to the back of the attacking ranks following the arrival of 'Georgia Express' Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, resulting in increased time spent on the bench."

He added, "As Lee Kang-in repeatedly found himself unable to play due to tactical choices rather than a lack of ability, he appears to have made the decision to transfer in order to continue his growth as a player."

It is also reported that moves by Europe's top clubs toward Lee Kang-in are accelerating. The media stated, "Currently, La Liga powerhouse Atletico Madrid is strongly seeking to sign Lee Kang-in. Lee Kang-in is a player who has already been tested on the La Liga stage during his time at Mallorca. Atletico plans to sign Lee Kang-in to bolster creativity in midfield."

Lucas Beraldo, a Brazilian defender whose transfer rumors have also surfaced alongside Lee Kang-in, is reportedly dissatisfied with his limited playing time. Beraldo is currently attracting interest from German Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen.

The media reported, "PSG, boasting Europe's top squad, is showing signs of key players departing. It remains to be seen what decision Lee Kang-in will make in the upcoming transfer market."

Rumors of Lee Kang-in's move to Atletico have been consistently circulating recently. Estadio Atletico, a source reporting on Atletico, stated on the 4th that "Atletico's leadership has selected Lee Kang-in as the replacement for Antoine Griezmann, whose move to Orlando City is imminent, and is already aware of the price to be paid to PSG to acquire him and is currently in negotiations."

According to reports, Lee Kang-in's profile aligns precisely with Atletico's roadmap for the upcoming season. Atletico's sports director, Mateu Alemani, has closely monitored Lee Kang-in's development for several months. The media explained that "Lee Kang-in's technical attributes are closely linked to the tactical system requirements of coach Diego Simeone" and that "the club selected Lee Kang-in as the ideal candidate to unleash creativity in the LINE."

The key issue is the transfer fee. Media outlets reported that PSG has set the transfer fee for Lee Kang-in at a maximum of 50 million euros (approximately 86.8 billion won). The report further explained that while this amount could be financially burdensome for Atletico, the club's leadership believes it is impossible to acquire a player of similar caliber at a lower price in the current transfer market, given Lee Kang-in's versatility, which would provide valuable rotation options for coach Simeone.

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*This content was translated by AI.