'Chairman' was called the pillar, and the 'Captain' made a direct call! Lee Kang-in: "All I can think about is winning" — Declares conquest of Madrid

*This content was translated by AI.

Enrique Cerezo (78), Chairman of Atletico Ma Deu-ri-deu (Chairman), expressed strong confidence in Lee Kang-in (25) upon his joining the team.

Chairman Cerezo said at Lee Kang-in's official signing ceremony held on the 17th (Korean time) at the home stadium Metropolitano: "Lee Kang-in, you will become a very important pillar of our team," and added, "I am convinced he will be a key player for Atletico."

He also stated, "The club director has been observing Lee Kang-in for a long time," evaluating him as "a player with outstanding skills and broad vision." Mentioning the enthusiastic response from Korean fans, he said, "When I recently visited Korea, I personally felt Lee Kang-in's popularity. Since Korea always welcomes Atletico with warm affection and respect, I would like to extend special greetings to all Korean fans."

On this day, Lee Kang-in, who signed a long-term contract until June 2031 and received the jersey bearing the number 7, responded to the club's expectations with a strong desire for victory.

Lee Kang-in said, "I am grateful for the chairman's warm welcome," adding, "From the moment I received contact from the club, all I could think about was joining this team and helping secure more victories." Regarding wearing the iconic number 7 of the team, he stated, "My only goal is to help the team," and pledged his dedication: "I will do my best in that role until the last day I wear this jersey."

It was also revealed that veteran midfielder Koke of the team played a decisive role in the transfer through his active pursuit. Lee Kang-in explained, "Koke is one of the biggest reasons I decided to sign with the club. He personally contacted me, and I am learning a lot from him every day."

Regarding the coaching style of Diego Simeone, Lee Kang-in showed a positive reaction. He said, "What surprised me most and felt different from my previous teams was the manager's incredible passion," adding, "Although the training intensity was very high, I genuinely enjoyed it thanks to the team's unique atmosphere."

Lee Kang-in, whose joining with the team was somewhat delayed due to administrative procedures related to military service exemption, now faces the challenge of quickly adapting to Simeone's demanding requirements for attackers: strong defensive involvement and high work rate.

Lee Kang-in, embarking on his campaign in Spain, is scheduled to make his official debut in the 2026–2027 La Liga season opener against Malaga at Metropolitano at 4 a.m. Korean time on the 20th.

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*This content was translated by AI.