No more 'champion's runner-up'! Lee Kang-in makes a decisive move to 'settle his Paris life' → Atletico transfer gains momentum... Departure after the World Cup

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Kang-in (25) is expected to leave Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this summer. His next destination is reportedly Atletico Madrid of Spain's La Liga, a club that has been consistently linked with him in the past.

European transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano reported on the 2nd (Korean time) via his social media (SNS) that "Lee Kang-in and Gonçalo Ramos plan to leave Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this summer to secure more playing time."

He added, "Atletico has already been requesting the acquisition of the two players for several months," lending weight to the possibility of a transfer.

The background to Lee Kang-in's decision to transfer is linked to the reduced role in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League (UCL). PSG defeated Arsenal on the 31st of last month to claim the 2025-2026 UCL title, achieving the great feat of back-to-back championships. Lee Kang-in also secured his second major trophy of his career, becoming the first Korean player to do so. However, Lee Kang-in, who sat on the bench for the final last season, was unable to play in the final for the second consecutive year.

This season, Lee Kang-in played 27 matches in Ligue 1, recording three goals and four assists as a rotation member. Moreover, he was completely overlooked on the most important UCL stage. He appeared in 10 UCL matches, all as a substitute, and sat on the bench for four consecutive matches from the second leg of the quarterfinals through to the final. Lee Kang-in, who suffered the humiliation of missing the final for two consecutive years, appears to have decided to transfer in search of more opportunities.

Atletico's pursuit of Lee Kang-in is not new. The club also explored acquiring him during the winter transfer window. However, the deal fell through due to PSG's opposition, citing the player's high tactical utility and significant marketing impact in Asia. However, given the player's strengthened desire to transfer, the situation is expected to unfold differently in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Meanwhile, having completed all his club duties, Lee Kang-in will immediately join the South Korean national football team to begin preparations for the 2026 North American World Cup.

According to the Korea Football Association, Lee Kang-in arrived at the pre-camp for Hong Myung-bo's team, set up in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, on the 1st (local time). Despite jet lag and the effects of long-haul flights, Lee Kang-in headed straight to the training ground and shed sweat.

With Lee Kang-in's arrival, the team, now complete, will play its final friendly match against El Salvador at 10 a.m. on the 4th. Having previously defeated Trinidad and Tobago 5-0, Hong Myung-bo's team will move to Mexico, the final destination, immediately after the El Salvador match. South Korea, which is in Group A of the group stage, will face the Czech Republic on the 12th, Mexico on the 19th, and South Africa on the 25th in sequence.

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*This content was translated by AI.