Hong Myung-Bo, the coach of South Korea, probably did not hesitate when going through the name of Kang-in Lee in his list of players summoned for matches against the United States (September 7) and Mexico (September 10). Lee remains one of the flagship players of the Asian selection, but his situation at Paris Saint-Germain is much more talked about this summer. Unsurprisingly, the status of luxury replacement of Lee in France is more problematic in a 2025/2026 season which will be punctuated by the World Cup.
Linked to PSG until 2028, Kang-in Lee experienced an exceptional 2024/2025 exercise on the collective level. Winner of the quintuplet with the red and blue, the South Korean has largely stocked its showcase with trophies. But at the individual level, Lee counted very little, especially during the Money Time of the season in the Champions League. Last year, it appeared 49 times for a mixed assessment (7 goals, 6 assists). In Ligue 1, he has 19 tenure (6 goals, 6 assists). In C1, he was only holder four times and he was not especially seen again after his entry into play during the eighth finale return against Liverpool. And this summer, he started no meeting of the Club World Cup disputed in the United States.
“”Is Lee Kang-in a slave to PSG?»»
Coming into play during the European Super Cup against Tottenham, Lee still managed to distinguish itself by reducing the scoring, thus stimulating the Parisian raising. However, the interested party is logically not delighted with his situation. Always considered a lining, Lee takes advantage of the truncated preparation of European champions to grab playing time. And again. If he was well established for the resumption of the championship in Nantes (1-0), he quickly found the sidelines during the reception of Angers (1-0). Behind the scenes, the player is still looking for an exit door. Long announced on the transfers list and quoted in the viewfinder of Napoli or Premier League clubs, Lee recently saw corridor noises announced to Atlético de Madrid or Tottenham. For its part, PSG no longer intends to let its attacking midfielder spin so easily. The situation has changed. Paris has not received an exciting offer and a week from the end of the transfer window, Lee will only fold a baggage if the French champions receive a beautiful check and that they have time to find a replacement for it. So a complicated scenario.
And in South Korea, the tension rises. A little less than a year from the World Cup organized in the United States, Canada and Mexico, local media are afraid of seeing Lee live a season without playing time. “The Korean media and fans are asking a lot of questions about whether Kang-in Lee is offered enough opportunities. I know that it is impossible for PSG to have all its holders played in each match, but many find it difficult to understand that it is systematically excluded from important matches. It is currently a World Cup season, which arouses great concern about maintaining the level of performance. No matter the size of the club, it is difficult for a player who cannot play to achieve good performance ”Nam Jang-Hyun, journalist for the daily Sports Dong-A. Finally, the media Chosun went straight there this Monday. “”Is Lee Kang-in a slave to PSG? Its price of 73 billion wons (€ 45 million, editor's note) is “bad”. Will he remain a permanent rotation player? The amount is excessive for a non -holder player.Will the situation evolve by next Monday? Case to follow.
