Lee Kang-ins first training session with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has come and gone, and he’s got a two-shot that’s sure to excite.
On December 12, PSG posted a video titled “A look back at Lee Kang-In’s first steps and first team training session at the PSG training center” on the club’s channel. The one-minute, 27-second video includes a physical examination, stretching, strength training, and outdoor team drills.
In addition to the video, PSG posted photos of the squad, with Lee dominating the list. Lee is seen sweating and working hard in both indoor and outdoor training sessions.
There were two scenes that stood out. First, the video shows Lee and Neymar side-by-side in a massage parlor, and while there’s not much else to it, it’s enough to get you excited. Neymar is a “world-class” athlete by all accounts.
Lee has been linked to Neymar before. They faced off in the round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and exchanged jerseys after the match. “I was the one who asked for the change. Neymar knew who I was…,” he said, introducing the episode.
It will be interesting to see how Lee and Neymar work together on the pitch. They both grew up being called ‘geniuses’. The ideal scenario would be for Neymar to finish a pass from Lee to create a joint goal.
Lee was also smiling and chatting with ‘Valencia senior’ Carlos Soler. Soler, like Lee, came up through the Valencia youth ranks to the first team. He then moved to PSG in the summer of 2022, where he was one of the first to establish himself.
As you can see, PSG are taking a serious approach to Lee.
Lee joined PSG on September 9th. The club announced on its website, “Lee Kang-in has signed for PSG. We are pleased to announce that he has signed a contract until June 2028. He becomes the first Korean player to join PSG.” He will wear the number 19, the same number he wore in Mallorca.
The process to make it official was impressive. PSG announced five players, including Lee Kang-in, in the span of an hour, posting three graphics to tease fans. It started with the airport, pictures, and jersey markings, followed by the flags of each player’s country 30 minutes later. Another 30 minutes later, the official video was posted.
In Lee Kang-in’s case, the 24-second jersey marking video came out at 3 a.m. KST, followed by a photo of the flag at 3:30, and finally the official video at 4 a.m. It was very emotional, especially the photo of the flag. The flag was unfurled against a beautiful night sky, and the message on his phone read “This is Paris”.
Many photos have since been released. We’ve seen them in suits, holding jerseys with 2028 on them, giving interviews, roaring, and, most notably, smiling with flags.
We also got to see the team interview. When asked to introduce himself, he said, “My position on the pitch is varied. I’m a midfielder who can play on both wings. I’m also a technical player who is comfortable on the ball. In addition, I have a lot of desire and thirst to win. I’m here to help win and everything about the team.”
He went on to talk about PSG and the Ligue 1: “I’ve known PSG since I was a kid. They’re one of the best teams in the world, and I’ve been following the Ligue 1 closely for a while. It’s a very competitive league and has a lot of talented players.”
“I always want to help the team, I want to help the team win every game and win as many titles as possible,” Lee said of his goals at PSG.
Finally, he told the fans: “I’m happy to join PSG. PSG is one of the biggest clubs in the world and has some of the best players in the world. I can’t wait to start this new adventure, I’m looking forward to meeting the fans and bringing joy on the pitch.”
There have been many twists and turns along the way to PSG. Lee joined Valencia’s youth team in 2011. He was considered a top talent and made his La Liga debut in the 2018-19 season. However, the rest of his career was a disappointment. He needed a lot of chances to develop, but it wasn”t easy. He played 17 games (444 minutes) in 2019-20 and 24 games (1,267 minutes) in 2020-21, mostly as a substitute. It was a clear lack of playing time 토토사이트순위.
Then, in the summer of 2021, he ended his 10-year stay with Valencia. His original contract ran until June 2022, but the club asked him to ‘release’ his contract in order to strengthen their forward line. He accepted, and became a free agent.
In his new home in Mallorca, Lee struggled to find his feet in his first year, but took off in his second. In 36 Spanish La Liga games (2,843 minutes – 33 starts), Lee produced six goals and six assists, setting a new single-season record for most minutes played and most offensive points.
He was a standout in Mallorca. He was indispensable in the game plan. He was involved everywhere, on the flanks and in the center. In addition to his passing ability, he also led the attack with one of the best dribbling skills in the league. In particular, he is second (90) behind Vinicius Junior (112-Real Madrid) in successful dribbles. His combination with Bedat Murki was also impressive.
Now, at PSG, he will be joining the ranks of world-class players. Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Marco Verratti, Marquinhos, and Achraf Hakimi are just a few of the top players. With 12 attacking points in Mallorca, Lee should be able to produce even more.