Simeone praises Lee Kang-in's versatility after Atletico Madrid debut
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone praised South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in as an all-around player after Lee made his debut for the Spanish club in a 3-1 preseason loss to Manchester City at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday.
Lee, who signed for Atletico in late July, was brought on as part of mass substitutions in the 63rd minute. During his time on the pitch, he had a couple of looks at the net and also looked to set up teammates for chances. Although his club still fell by two goals, Simeone said he liked what he saw.
"He is an all-around player. He can play on the wing and he can run in the tight space between the opposing midfield line and backline," Simeone said. "And as we saw today, he can also play as a second striker. At the end of the day, his position will change depending on what we need."
Lee had not been able to travel out of South Korea to join his new team right away due to an administrative holdup and missed their preseason match against Manchester United in Sweden. Instead, he had been training at the facilities for the K League 1 club FC Seoul, and later on his own near Seoul, to gear up for Sunday's match. Simeone acknowledged that Lee had little time to get on the same page with his new teammates.
"To play in matches, you have to develop a rhythm, and he will need some time to get to that point," the coach said. "But this applies to everyone, not just Lee Kang-in. It really comes down to their physical readiness."
The match was the final game of the fifth edition of the Coupang Play Series, which brings popular European clubs to South Korea for preseason matches each summer. Atletico Madrid and Manchester City also squared off in the 2023 edition, with the Spanish side prevailing 2-1.
Lee, 25, had played for the French champions Paris Saint-Germain over the past three seasons and previously for La Liga clubs Valencia CF and RCD Mallorca. In a clear sign of Atletico's faith in him, Lee has inherited the No. 7 jersey from club legend Antoine Griezmann, who now plays in the U.S.-based Major League Soccer. The number is typically given to a team's star attacking midfielder or right winger, and it has come to represent flair and creativity.