Lee Kang-in, who transferred from Paris Saint-Germain to Atletico Madrid, expressed his determination to give 120% of his abilities in his new team.
According to Yonhap News on August 8, Lee attended a press conference at Mokdong Sports Complex in Seoul alongside head coach Diego Simeone. He stated, "I have always wanted to win, both in the past and now, and that’s why I came to this team."
Atletico Madrid will play a preseason friendly against Manchester City from the English Premier League on August 9 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. This match is expected to be Lee's first unofficial debut in front of Korean fans wearing his new uniform.
During the press conference, Lee shared, "I have watched this club a lot since I was young, and I know how great it is. I am happy to be able to join such a team." He explained that the genuine desire from the coach and the club for him to join significantly influenced his decision to transfer.
He added, "Since this is a team that competes for championships every season, I believe I can develop further and lift many trophies here."
Lee, who moved from Mallorca to PSG in July 2023, is returning to La Liga after three years with this transfer. The transfer fee is reported to be €35 million, with an additional €5 million in options, totaling €40 million (approximately 67.1 billion won).
This amount ranks as the second-highest transfer fee for a South Korean player, following Kim Min-jae's €50 million transfer from Napoli to Bayern Munich in 2023.
The club has assigned Lee the number '7' jersey, a number previously worn by Antoine Griezmann during Atletico Madrid's golden era in the 2010s.
Lee emphasized, "I know there are many legends and great players who wore the number 7, but honestly, what matters more to me is how I can help the team from the start."
He expressed his eagerness to improve, stating, "I am a player who is eager to think and develop at every moment. I have progressed in every aspect at PSG and with the Korean national team. I will do my best to play in the direction the coach wants, even if it means playing differently than before."
Lee concluded, "I have seen that our fans are the best in the world, so I am very excited and looking forward to it. I want to show that I am a player who helps the team and brings joy and happiness to them."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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