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| Paris Saint-Germain Open Training was held at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on the 2nd. Neymar is playing a joke on Lee Kang-in. Busan = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com/2023.08.02/ |
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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| EPAYonhap News |
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On July 9, 2023, a year ago, domestic soccer fans had an unrealistic experience. A Korean player has joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), a big club full of world-class stars. Lee Kang-in, who grew up in Spain, began a new challenge after releasing a photo of him smiling broadly with his uniform with his number 19, English name LEE KANG IN, and his contract term of 2028.
On July 9, 2024, exactly a year later, Lee Kang-in celebrated his first anniversary of joining PSG. On this day, Lee Kang-in released a video showing him wearing a uniform and suit a year ago and taking official photos and conducting an official interview with the club on his personal Instagram story, looking back on '1 year ago today'.
Lee Kang-in appeared on EA Sports FC's online YouTube around the first anniversary of joining PSG and delivered an honest and straightforward story about how he became a soccer player, Valencia Youth, the selection of the national team, and the process of joining PSG.
Lee Kang-in, who transferred to PSG after presenting a large transfer fee of 22 million euros to Mallorca, which is equivalent to his 'second hometown', said he did not have to worry about choosing PSG. He said "The Paris (PSG) is a fly. As all soccer players know, PSG is the club where the best players in the world go. Neymar, Lionel Messi and Mbappe played a year before I joined. It will be hard for anyone to turn down a PSG offer."
"PSG is a club that does well (playing soccer) in other top teams in the league." But I went to Paris from a team fighting at the bottom (Mayorkas) and I knew so well that " (Joining PSG) would make me strong and make me progress. I thought there would be a lot to learn if I trained, played, and lived with such a great player." Fans who watched the national team game confessed that they felt strange feelings while watching the national team player after joining PSG.
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| ReutersYonhap News |
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| ReutersYonhap News |
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Lee Kang-in played in 36 games, including the Cup, at PSG led by head coach Luis Enrique, and scored five goals and five assists. He played in the European Champions League as much as he wanted, and had a successful season, achieving 'DOMESTIC TRAVEL', including Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophy de Champion. I didn't walk on a flowery path from the beginning.
Lee Kang-in complained, `Of course, it was difficult to compete for the starting lineup.' Lee Kang-in, who can play in all positions in the second line, competed in good faith with Vitinha, who grew rapidly as a Portuguese built-in main player, Warren Zairemeri, a super-special youngster born in 2006, Fabian Lewis, the Spanish national team, and Usman Dembele, the French national team.
Lee Kang-in showed faster adaptability than expected. In this regard, I thanked Neymar (Al-Hilal) and Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid). Lee Kang-in liked me very much and took better care of me than other players. Thank you. It's really special to play with good players." Neymar was described as a 'cool adult' and Mbappe as a 'three-year-old brother who is really good at soccer'. Neymar received advice on football, life, and Mbappe learned shooting skills, he added.
Before Neymar transferred, he was invited to his house and had a meal with Marquinos and Keylor Navas. On the spot, he talked about his experience, his life, and what is important as a soccer player. I learned a lot. I thought I should try to be such a wonderful person."
Mbappe moved to Real after last season. Lee Kang-in said "It's a shame that Mbappe moved, but he'll do really well when he goes to Real." He expressed his desire to face Mbappe in the Champions League final next season.
When asked about how he came to be a soccer player in this interview, Lee Kang-in said, "I was destined to become a soccer player. My father, who loves sports, wanted to raise his son as a soccer player even before I was born."
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
