'Talent Ignored by Hong Myung-bo and Lee Min-sung': Kim Min-su, 'Korea's Football Future,' Joins Rangers Under Unprecedented Treatment

*This content was translated by AI.

Attacker Kim Min-su (20), widely hailed as a key resource to carry the future of South Korean football, has transferred to the Scottish powerhouse Rangers FC. The unprecedented transfer fee and the number 10 jersey assigned to him signal that the club holds his talent in extremely high regard. Ironically, this same talent was overlooked by former national team coach Hong Myung-bo and Lee Min-sung, head coach of the U23 Asian Games representative team.

Kim Min-su's transfer to Rangers was officially confirmed on the 27th (Korea time). Rumors of his move had been consistently reported in local media prior to this, culminating in an official club announcement today. The contract spans four years with a one-year extension option. The transfer fee amounts to a staggering 10 million euros (approximately 16.2 billion won). Additionally, he was assigned the number 10 jersey, which typically symbolizes a team's ace player. Considering Kim Min-su was born in 2006, both the transfer fee and the assignment of the number 10 jersey are highly notable. This underscores the high evaluation and expectations the club holds for him.

This is due to his consistent presence on the field in Spain. Having moved to Spain for studies at a young age, he quickly established himself as a key player after joining Girona FC's youth team. During his time with Girona B, he alternated between the first and second teams and even made a surprise appearance in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) group stage. Last season, he was loaned to Andorra FC in Spain's second division, where he recorded six goals and four assists in 40 league matches. His consistent performances in Spain ultimately led to his transfer to the Scottish powerhouse Rangers FC.

He is also a talent garnering significant attention abroad. The International Sports Research Institute (CIES), under FIFA, selected and announced 100 promising players born after 2006 who play in leagues outside Europe's top five last December; Kim Min-su was the only South Korean player to make the list. Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo also recently singled out Kim Min-su as the successor to South Korea's national team star Son Heung-min (LAFC).

However, despite his consistent performances that warranted a 10 million euro transfer fee and the assignment of the number 10 jersey at Rangers, Kim Min-su has yet to make an official appearance for the national team, including Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO), let alone participate in any official matches (Gi Rok-i (EVP)). According to the Korea Football Association, he has no record of playing for the A national team, nor for the U23 or U20 representative teams.

Thanks to his consistent performances, such as being nominated for La Liga's Player of the Month award last year, Kim Min-su was frequently mentioned as a potential candidate for Hong Myung-bo's national team squad. Interest focused on whether he would be given a trial opportunity, especially since his condition appeared better than other second-tier players who had failed to make significant impacts or even secure playing time at their clubs. However, former coach Hong Myung-bo ultimately overlooked Kim Min-su, never once calling him up to the A national team. Although Lee Min-sung, the head coach preparing for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya (Japan) Asian Games, attempted to find a way to utilize Kim Min-su, he was eventually excluded from the final Asian Games roster. In September last year, a training camp call-up was canceled due to club-related issues, and although he accompanied Coach Lee during a domestic training session in March this year, he was again overlooked by the coach during the final roster selection process.

Despite being overlooked by domestic coaches, his consistent performances in Europe earned him recognition for his talent, leading him to join the Scottish powerhouse under "special treatment." The A national team, following Hong Myung-bo's disgraceful departure, is expected to announce an interim head coach soon. Meanwhile, Coach Lee Min-sung will step down from leading the U23 representative team after the Asian Games, meaning the Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO) team's leadership is also set for change. Given his consistent performances at his club, the possibility of Kim Min-su, who has so far had no connection with the national team jersey, being called up to the national squad is increasingly likely.

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*This content was translated by AI.