Shocking prediction! 'Lee Kang-in not yet a guaranteed starter' excluded from Atletico's expected starting XI... "Still, a player who can add creativity"

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Kang-in (25), the ace of South Korea's national football team, has been left out of Atletico Madrid's expected starting lineup for his new club.

Football content channel 'Score90' released an evaluation of Atletico's squad and their predicted starting XI for the 2026–2027 season on the 2nd (Korean time).

The predicted formation was a 4-4-2. However, Lee Kang-in's name did not appear on the starting list.

Score90 placed Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sørloth at the front line. The midfield consists of Ademola Lookman, Pablo Barrios, Morten Hjulmand, and Julián Simón.

Lee Kang-in, who can play as an attacking midfielder or wide forward, was omitted from the predicted starting lineup. He is assessed as a player who must first establish himself through fierce competition rather than being an immediate guaranteed starter.

In individual player evaluations, Lee Kang-in received 3 out of 5 stars. Five stars signify 'world-class', four stars mean 'excellent', three stars indicate 'good', two stars denote 'average', and one star means 'insufficient or not yet proven'.

Hjulmand and Barrios, included in the predicted starting XI, each received four stars. Alex Baena, another of Lee Kang-in's competitors, was also given four stars.

Players who received three stars like Lee Kang-in include Koke, Johnny Cardoso, and Rodrigo Mendoza.

However, expectations for Lee Kang-in were clear. Score90 evaluated him as a resource capable of addressing Atletico's midfield weaknesses.

The outlet rated Atletico's midfield strength at three stars. While acknowledging the squad depth and stability, the analysis noted a lack of creativity.

Score90 stated, "Although they have a solid midfield, their play is somewhat monotonous to warrant four stars," adding that players like Hjulmand, Koke, Barrios, and Cardoso provide consistency and work rate.

It further noted, "While the stability of performance is high, there is a slight lack of creativity in the attacking areas."

Regarding Baena, it said, "He was signed to add creativity but struggled to show clear impact during his first season at Atletico," and predicted that "after experiencing the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, he could grow another level this season." Mendoza was also mentioned as a player worth watching.

Another card expected to boost Atletico's creativity is Lee Kang-in. Score90 stated, "With Lee Kang-in joining from Paris Saint-Germain, creativity is expected to be further strengthened," and added, "There is certainly potential for Atletico's midfield to rise to a four-star level."

Earlier, Atletico officially announced the signing of Lee Kang-in last month. His contract runs until the summer of 2031. Lee Kang-in was also assigned the number 7 jersey, which symbolizes the team's ace. According to local reports, the transfer fee is a base 35 million euros (approximately 58 billion won) with additional options attached.

Lee Kang-in is set to make his Atletico debut in front of South Korean football fans. Under manager Diego Simeone, Atletico will face English powerhouse Manchester City at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 9th.

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

*This content was translated by AI.