'Not a jersey seller' Lee Kang-in receives rave reviews from prominent Spanish media: "You should learn from LEE... Overwhelming class"

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Kang-in (25), who led his team to victory with a spectacular winning goal in his official debut for Atletico Madrid, received high praise from prominent local Spanish media. He instantly dispelled recent doubts and emerged as a new ace, earning accolades not just as a marketing-driven signing but as a top-class player who transformed the team.

On the 20th (Korean time), the Spanish outlet 'As' focused intensely on Lee Kang-in's debut performance under the headline "Julian, learn from Lee Kang-in."

The outlet even stated, "Many likely believed that Lee Kang-in's signing was solely for commercial purposes such as jersey sales or Korean tour matches. However, Lee Kang-in is by no means such a player. He is a footballer with immense class, and he proved this perfectly in the match against Malaga."

Indeed, recent skepticism toward Lee Kang-in in Spain has been significant. This was because the number 7 jersey he inherited is the iconic number of Antoine Griezmann, the club's all-time top scorer (212 goals) and a legendary figure. The heavy burden combined with prejudices about commercial motives created immense pressure, but Lee Kang-in silenced all concerns from his very first match through his performance.

Seemingly aware of this, Atletico's official social networking service (SNS) also posted a moment of his goal shortly after it occurred with the bold caption "Any opinions? (¿Opiniones?)," delivering a satisfying rebuke to the critical public sentiment.

Continuing, 'As' stated, "Lee Kang-in, who came on as a substitute in the second half, completely turned the tide of the match. He not only scored a fantastic goal but also showed boldness that thrilled Atletico fans. Madrid now has a new ace." The outlet further praised him, saying, "Lee Kang-in is a humble player who said he came to contribute to the team and bring joy to the fans from his very first game."

Additionally, the outlet pointedly urged striker Julian Alvarez, who had been embroiled in transfer rumors recently, to take a page from Lee Kang-in's conduct. 'As' emphasized, "Julian needs to wake up now. He must have seen the dedication shown by his teammates on the pitch. No one at Atletico can stand above the team, whether it is Julian or anyone else. Julian should look at Lee Kang-in. Only by learning from his humility and dedication can he win the hearts of the fans."

On this day, Lee Kang-in came on as a substitute in the 13th minute of the second half during the opening match of the first round of the 2026-2027 La Liga against Malaga at Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain. In the 25th minute of the second half, he scored the decisive opening goal with a sharp curling shot from his left foot, leading his team to a 2-0 victory.

Throughout the first half, Atletico struggled to create chances under cautious, defense-oriented play, continuing a frustrating flow. However, immediately after Lee Kang-in's substitution, they opened up their attack. Following his debut goal, Lee Kang-in created a decisive chance for Ademola Lookman with a sharp penetrating pass and later provoked an opponent's caution with a flashy move to relieve pressure, leaving a strong impression before home fans.

Lee Kang-in, who performed brilliantly in his debut, was named the official La Liga match man of the match. Statistical outlet 'FootMob' gave Lee Kang-in, who played only 33 minutes, a rating of 7.9 and praised him highly.

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*This content was translated by AI.