"Lee Kang-in, you will come on and score a goal." The prophecy came true... A special reason for running to Jimenez after scoring his debut goal

*This content was translated by AI.

"You will come on as a substitute and score a goal."

A teammate's prophecy came true. After Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid) of the South Korean national team scored a fantastic debut goal, he immediately ran to Jose Maria Gimenez.

Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reported on the 20th (Korea time), "There was an interesting scene." It added, "Lee Kang-in ran to Gimenez right after scoring to share the joy together. There was a special reason for this."

Atletico secured a 2-0 victory in their 2026–2027 La Liga season opener against Malaga at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on that day.

Lee Kang-in was at the heart of the victory.

Starting from the bench, Lee Kang-in was substituted into the match in the 12th minute of the second half. The score remained 0-0, and Atletico struggled to find a breakthrough.

Once on the field, Lee Kang-in immediately targeted the opponent's goal with aggressive intent. He attempted several shots, injecting energy into the attack, and ultimately broke the deadlock in the 25th minute of the second half.

Receiving the ball on the right side of the opponent's penalty area, Lee Kang-in used his skills and dribbling to shake off defenders. He momentarily slowed down to completely disrupt the defender's timing, then curled a shot with his signature left foot, sending the ball precisely into the top-left corner of the goal.

This was his first goal in his La Liga debut wearing the Atletico jersey.

Lee Kang-in's actions immediately after scoring also drew attention. While celebrating with teammates, Lee Kang-in quickly turned toward Gimenez, and the two players embraced warmly to perform their celebration.

The reason was revealed after the match. According to reports, in a post-match interview, Lee Kang-in said, "When I was on the bench, Gimenez told me, 'You will come on as a substitute and score a goal.' I am grateful that he believed in me, so I wanted to express my thanks after scoring." He then shared this behind-the-scenes story.

Gimenez's prophecy filled with trust had indeed come true.

Thanks to Lee Kang-in's debut goal, Atletico secured three points at home and started the new season on a high note.

Mundo Deportivo also praised him highly, stating, "Lee Kang-in was the star of the match for Atletico under coach Diego Simeone," adding that he was "the player who broke the tight balance that could have caused difficulties for Atletico."

However, Lee Kang-in shifted the focus to his teammates rather than highlighting his own performance. He said, "Everyone played a good game. The substitutes also ran hard to help the team. Thanks to our teammates' hard work in the first half, we were able to secure the victory later. I am truly happy."

He continued, "I still lack match fitness. But as I continue training, I will improve individually and contribute to the team's overall development. I hope we can earn many points."

Lee Kang-in's physical condition has not yet reached 100%. After completing the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, he could not immediately join the Atletico squad during transfer negotiations. He underwent personal training and then began syncing with coach Simeone and his new teammates through the Coupang Play Series Seoul Tour.

Lee Kang-in also explained, "I knew that matches early in the season are very important. Many players returned from the World Cup in a state of insufficient training."

Although not in perfect physical condition, the result was striking. Lee Kang-in scored in his debut match and led his team to victory.

He pledged, "I am truly happy about the win. We will continue to work hard to achieve our goals."

When asked about the race for the La Liga title, he did not hide his confidence. Lee Kang-in firmly stated, "We will do our best to win every match."

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*This content was translated by AI.