The heart-wrenching 'Lee Kang-in's ordeal' is finally over! Expected to be a starter for 'AT Madrid' in any tactic

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Kang-in (25) leaving Paris Saint-Germain (PSG·France) for Atletico (AT) Madrid (Spain) was indeed a 'major decision.' PSG is undeniably Europe's strongest team, having won the UEFA Champions League (UCL) title for two consecutive seasons. In just three seasons at PSG, Lee Kang-in accumulated an impressive 12 trophies, including two UCL titles and three French Ligue 1 championships.

Nevertheless, Lee Kang-in decided to part ways with PSG because his position there was ultimately unstable. In the 2025-2026 French professional football Ligue 1 season, he appeared in 27 matches (3 goals, 4 assists), but started only 18 of them. In the UCL, he failed to start even a single match from the group stage through to the final; notably, he was forced to sit on the bench for four consecutive matches from the second leg of the quarterfinals through to the final.

With his transfer confirmed on the 25th (Korean time), there is a high possibility that Lee Kang-in's past struggles will finally end at AT Madrid. Of course, variables such as adapting to a new team remain, but local expectations overwhelmingly predict that he will quickly establish himself as a core member of the squad. The same logic underpins predictions that his starting position will remain unchanged regardless of which tactics AT Madrid employs. This is also why the transfer is being evaluated as highly significant for Lee Kang-in, irrespective of the differences in club performance or scale between PSG and AT Madrid.

The Spanish media outlet Radio Colchonero anticipated various formations that Atletico Madrid could utilize in the new season and predicted that Lee Kang-in would secure a starting spot in any tactical setup. For instance, in a 4-2-3-1 formation, it is expected that Lee Kang-in will line up on the right side, forming the second line alongside Ademola Lookman and Alex Baena, while supporting Julian Alvarez at the forefront.

Alternatively, it was predicted that Lee Kang-in could occupy the central position in the second line instead of Baena, becoming the focal point of the team's attack. This would involve Lookman, Alvarez, and Giuliano Simeone advancing forward, with Lee Kang-in positioned behind them to direct the team's offense. Even if the formation shifts from a back four to a back three, utilizing a 3-4-1-2 (5-2-1-2) setup, the media anticipates that Alexander Sørloth and Alvarez will form a striking duo with Lee Kang-in deployed as an attacking midfielder directly beneath them.

Another media outlet, Atletico Stats, also predicted that Lee Kang-in would be utilized as a starter on the right flank in a 4-2-3-1 formation. However, he is expected to position himself slightly more inward and deeper than Lookman on the opposite side of the second line, focusing more on supporting teammates through passing and combination play. The media expressed expectations that "looking back at Lee Kang-in's performances at PSG and this recent CONCACAF Gold Cup, his passing range effectively utilizes even distant teammates."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.