Will Lee Kang-in's official announcement be delayed again? Possibility of release timed with the team joining next week... He will play in the Seoul vs. Manchester City match

*This content was translated by AI.

The official announcement of South Korean national team ace Lee Kang-in's transfer to Atletico Madrid (Spain) may be delayed once again.

Spanish outlet AS reported on the 24th (Korea time) about Atletico's pre-season schedule ahead of the 2026–2027 La Liga season opener.

According to the report, Atletico will play its final pre-season friendly against French powerhouse Olympique Marseille on the 15th next month. Five days later, on August 20, it will face Malaga in the league's season opener.

During this process, mention was made of Lee Kang-in. AS stated, "Atletico is finalizing its summer schedule. For coach Diego Simeone, pre-season has not been easy," adding, "More than half of the squad has been called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Players are returning sequentially, and those who reached the final are scheduled to join en masse on the 10th next month."

It further noted, "Players who reached the World Cup final are not expected to have joined team training yet, but most other players will likely be present," adding, "This includes Lee Kang-in. Lee Kang-in is expected to begin training with the squad starting next week."

Therefore, the official announcement of Lee Kang-in's transfer to Atletico may also be timed to coincide with his joining the squad.

Typically, a newly signed player participates in their first training session after the signing is announced. However, if the announcement is delayed due to schedules such as vacation, medical tests, contract signing, and official content filming, the official announcement and first training may occur on the same day or around the same time. Lee Kang-in could follow this procedure.

Lee Kang-in left Spanish club Mallorca in 2023 to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France. This summer, he will move to Atletico and embark on a new challenge in Spain.

Local Spanish outlets such as Esto Es Atletico reported that "Lee Kang-in and Atletico have agreed to a five-year contract extending until the summer of 2031." The transfer fee is reportedly around €40 million (approximately 68 billion won), consisting of a base fee of €35 million plus an optional €5 million.

European transfer market experts, including Fabrizio Romano, have also confirmed the same terms, indicating that Lee Kang-in's move to Atletico is virtually complete.

However, with nearly a month of reports about an imminent transfer but no official club announcement, doubts among football fans have grown.

Recently, local Spanish outlets predicted that Lee Kang-in's official announcement would come by the end of this week at the latest. However, no official news has been released yet. As a result, it is reported that not only Korean fans but also Atletico's local fans are anxiously awaiting the announcement.

Esto Es Atletico, which specializes in covering Atletico news, previously stated, "Amid continuous transfer rumors, Atletico fans' expectations have reached their peak. News of Lee Kang-in's imminent arrival brought great excitement to fans," while adding, "As the club remains silent, impatience is growing among fans eagerly awaiting the official announcement."

However, the outlet clarified that there are no issues with the transfer itself. It emphasized, "Agreements between both clubs and the player have been fully finalized. There are no remaining detailed conditions, and there is no risk of the transfer falling through at the last moment. Relations between Atletico's leadership and Lee Kang-in's side are also very smooth."

Even if Lee Kang-in's official announcement is delayed until next week, he is highly likely to participate in the 2026 Coupang Play Series match against Manchester City (England) on the 9th at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Unless special circumstances arise, Lee Kang-in could make his debut wearing an Atletico jersey in front of Korean fans.

Atletico has four pre-season matches remaining. They will play their first friendly against Getafe on the 30th, followed by a match against Manchester United (England) on the 1st next month.

Then, after arriving in Korea on the 5th, they will face off against Manchester City on the 9th in a pride-defining clash. A final friendly against Marseille has also been added to the schedule.

Atletico will play its La Liga season opener against Malaga at their home ground, Metropolitano, on August 20. They will then face Villarreal and Sevilla in succession.

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*This content was translated by AI.