"Why is Lee Kang-in like this for the national team?" Even Spain's local media are puzzled, labeling him a "two-faced LEE"... He aims to unleash his frustration in his return match against ATM

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Spanish local media have labeled Lee Kang-in (25, Atletico Madrid), who has shown contrasting performances for his club and the national team, as having "two faces." Having completed the international match schedule under Manager Moreno, Lee is set to return to Atletico to shake off his disappointment.

On the 9th (Korean time), Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reported under the headline "Lee Kang-in's Two Faces," stating that "Lee Kang-in returns to his club to wash away the slump he experienced with the national team," while shedding light on preparations for the upcoming weekend match.

Atletico will play an away game against Deportivo Alaves at Estadio de Mendizorroza in Spain at 11:15 p.m. on the 10th in the eighth round of the 2026-2027 La Liga. Currently sitting with five wins, one draw, and one loss (16 points), Atletico is chasing leader Barcelona (21 points) and desperately needs a victory in this match to maintain its pursuit of the top spot.

Lee Kang-in's outlook for starting against Alaves is bright. Although he raised concerns by complaining of ankle pain during the friendly match against Uzbekistan and being substituted at halftime, it has been confirmed that the injury is not serious. Lee also stated, "The ankle is not a major injury. It just needs to be managed well," indicating no issues with his participation. Having received an appropriate allocation of playing time with the national team, he appears to have maintained both his physical condition and match sharpness.

Lee Kang-in was highly anticipated during this international break, but aside from delivering a sharp cross that assisted Son Heung-min's goal against Uruguay, his overall performance has been described as somewhat quiet compared to his overwhelming presence with his club.

The outlet noted, "Lee Kang-in left a bitter aftertaste during this international break. Despite high expectations, he played a total of 218 minutes across three matches against Uruguay, Venezuela, and Uzbekistan, managing only one assist. It was a quiet run compared to the fierce performance he showed with his club."

However, on the Spanish stage, he remains a core player for the team. Lee Kang-in announced a dazzling start to this season with Atletico. He recorded two goals and one assist in matches against Malaga and Osasuna, earning Man of the Match (MVP) honors twice. Additionally, he swept both La Liga's "Goal of the Month" for September and the club fans' "Player of the Month" award for September.

Local media are also predicting that Lee Kang-in, who has shaken off injury concerns, is highly likely to start against Alaves. Attention is focused on whether he will reignite his league scoring touch for the first time in three weeks since the Osasuna match, helping the team leap into the top ranks and solidify his standing.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original