"Seoul will be flooded with red and white striped jerseys": Lee Kang-in's transfer agreement stirs excitement in Spain

*This content was translated by AI.

As South Korea's national team ace Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) prepares to move to Atletico Madrid (Spain), local media have also expressed high expectations.

Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo, which primarily covers Atletico news, reported on the 8th (Korea time): "Atletico's plan is to replicate the 'Lee Kang-in phenomenon' that occurred at Paris Saint-Germain," highlighting the possibility of Lee Kang-in joining the club.

The media explained: "The modern football transfer market has shown that a player's value is not measured solely by playing time on the pitch. Influence across borders, ability to attract fans, and impact on marketing strategies are also crucial." It added: "A clear example of this is Lee Kang-in himself."

The most striking figure is jersey sales. Lee Kang-in left Spanish club Mallorca in 2023 to join PSG. Although his playing time was not consistently high after the transfer, his popularity among PSG fans has consistently ranked at the top of the team's best-selling jerseys.

The media stated: "Talented Korean forward Lee Kang-in demonstrated undeniable power in jersey sales despite limited playing time at PSG." It further noted: "As PSG's first-ever Korean player, Lee Kang-in triggered a massive commercial frenzy immediately upon his transfer. At the center of this excitement was PSG's official store opened in Seoul. Approximately 70% of the jerseys sold there featured Lee Kang-in's name and number."

Lee Kang-in's transfer could also serve as an opportunity for Atletico to expand its brand recognition and fan base not only in South Korea but across Asia. The media assessed: "Lee Kang-in's presence helped PSG significantly expand its reach throughout South Korea and the broader Asian region. PSG explosively strengthened its fan base in this area, proving that a single player can completely transform a football club's commercial market."

It continued: "With Lee Kang-in set to join Atletico, similar commercial effects are expected at the Spanish club." Additionally, the media predicted that matches featuring Lee Kang-in would draw significant attention from South Korean football fans, positively impacting TV viewership and social media engagement.

Lee Kang-in's move to Atletico has become a hot topic in Spain recently. Earlier, transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano announced on his SNS on the 6th: "Lee Kang-in to Atletico Madrid, Here We Go," stating that "an agreement has been reached among all parties involved."

Romano explained: "Since Lee Kang-in desired the move to Atletico, personal terms were finalized months ago. The transfer fee Atletico will pay PSG is €40 million (approximately 70 billion won). Only formal documentation remains; verbal agreements are complete."

Spanish outlet AS also reported regarding Lee Kang-in's potential transfer: "Only an official announcement remains." AS added: "The transfer fee structure includes a base of €35 million plus an option for an additional €5 million," and noted that "Lee Kang-in and Atletico plan to sign a five-year contract."

Atletico's motivation to acquire Lee Kang-in is not limited to marketing benefits. According to AS, Atletico director Mateu Alemany has long desired Lee Kang-in. Alemany has been following him since Lee Kang-in began his professional career at Valencia. AS explained that given the significant transfer fee involved, Atletico's confidence in Lee Kang-in is firm.

From a squad perspective, Lee Kang-in is also a needed asset. It was reported that Diego Simeone, Atletico's manager, has been concerned about the team's creativity following Joao Felix's departure to Al-Nassr. With Antoine Griezmann, another key attacking resource for Atletico, also leaving, the need to strengthen the second line of attack has grown even more. Estadio Deportivo emphasized: "Lee Kang-in's transfer is necessary from a performance standpoint as well. Atletico requires creativity in its attacking midfield areas."

However, local media have focused more on Lee Kang-in's commercial impact. The media stated: "Atletico is a club with a strong tradition but continues to pursue international expansion. Now, it has the perfect opportunity to replicate PSG's success at Atletico."

It further added: "If Lee Kang-in's transfer becomes officially confirmed, Spanish football will prepare for a new jersey sales boom. Seoul streets could soon be flooded with Atletico's red and white jerseys."

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*This content was translated by AI.