*This content was translated by AI.
Even in Spain, there was no hiding surprise at Lee Kang-in (25), who has quickly settled into Atletico Madrid and is performing brilliantly. Some even say he has surpassed Antoine Griezmann's own form.
On the 17th (Korean time), Spanish outlet 'AS' stated, "Lee Kang-in is already perfectly fulfilling Griezmann's role." The report added, "In the match against Osasuna, Lee Kang-in delivered a fantastic performance and has surprisingly integrated into Diego Simeone's system in record time. With two goals and one assist this season, he is ready to willingly take on the ace role that Griezmann once held."
'AS' also highlighted that the 2026-2027 season is a very special year for Atletico, as it marks the first season without Griezmann, the club's all-time top scorer and a key figure in Simeone's tactics. The outlet noted, "The team's biggest challenge was finding a player to replace Griezmann, and it seems Lee Kang-in has decided to take on that role." It further reported, "Coach Simeone is completely captivated by Lee Kang-in's bold personality that constantly demands the ball, his technical skills, and his dedicated attitude of pressing aggressively from the front line and dropping deep to participate in defense."
The report continued, "Considering it took Griezmann nearly half a season in the past to adapt to Simeone's tactics and secure a starting spot, Lee Kang-in's speed of adaptation is astonishing. His true value will be tested this weekend in the big match against Real Madrid." It concluded, "Lee Kang-in may well be Atletico's best signing of the summer. If he maintains his current form, he will become a Ra Ri-ga-reul (CEO) star player," offering high praise without holding back.
Earlier, Lee Kang-in started as the right-sided midfielder in a 4-4-2 formation for Atletico's home match against Osasuna in La Liga Round 6, playing the full 90 minutes and leading his team to a decisive 4-0 victory.
On this day, Atletico took the lead with an early goal by Jonathan David in the 24th minute of the first half, then boosted their momentum with Lee Kang-in's goal in the 9th minute of the second half. Lee Kang-in intercepted an opponent's pass, quickly penetrated into the penalty box, controlled David's pass with a skillful first touch, and finished with a precise right-footed shot into the far corner of the net. This was his second league goal following his opener against Malaga in the season's opening match.
According to statistics specialist outlet 'FotMob', Lee Kang-in connected four out of six shots on target, recorded a 76% pass completion rate (39/51), three key passes, and two successful dribbles (100%), directing the attack from the front.
The numbers and local ratings were equally overwhelming. 'FotMob' gave Lee Kang-in a match rating of 9.0, the highest for either team, while 'Huskorad.com' awarded him 9.2 points. Even 'El Desmarque' praised him with a 9-point rating, calling it "the most complete performance since joining Atletico."
Lee Kang-in, who left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this summer to don the Atletico jersey, has appeared in all seven of his team's official matches — six in La Liga and one in the UEFA Champions League — accumulating 439 minutes played with two goals and one assist. 'AS' noted, "At just 25 years old, Lee Kang-in, who signed a long-term contract until 2031 and is valued at 28 million euros (approximately 41.5 billion won), finally completed his move to Atletico this summer after PSG's firm rejection in January." The outlet added, "With his dazzling skills and goal-scoring ability, he has thrilled the home fans at Metropolitano and stands at the starting line to make a historic mark for the club."
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*This content was translated by AI.
