Kang-in Lee, the boy who played with the older age group | OneFootball

Kang-in Lee’s rise has long been defined by playing above his age. According to AS, the South Korea international has joined Atlético Madrid, inheriting Antoine Griezmann’s number seven, a journey shaped by an early mix-up at Valencia.

In 2011 the playmaker arrived at Valencia’s Ciudad Deportiva de Paterna for trials. A language error sent him to train with 2000-born players, and he impressed enough for coaches to approve his signing.

Valencia quickly viewed him as a leading academy prospect and invested in his development. Mateu Alemany, now Atlético’s sporting director, was among his strongest backers and in 2018 set a release clause of €80 million.

Breaking through was harder. Under Marcelino García Toral, Albert Celades and Javi Gracia he struggled for rhythm, making 62 competitive appearances for Valencia with three goals and four assists. With South Korea he underlined his ceiling.

In 2019 he led the side to the U-20 World Cup final in Poland and was named the tournament’s Golden Ball. Later he blossomed at Mallorca, regaining confidence and prominence that earned a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

At 25 he arrives at the Metropolitano with a profile that matches the club’s new policy, talent, youth and the ability to fill several attacking roles. From that first session among older boys he has never seemed fazed by a higher step. Now he faces the biggest challenge of his career in red and white, aiming to become one of Diego Pablo Simeone’s new reference points.

Source: AS