Lee Kang-in, the South Korea star wey just join Atletico Madrid, go start for bench for im first official match. The team go face Malaga for opening match of 2026-2027 Spanish La Liga season, for Riyadh Air Metropolitano for Madrid, Spain, on August 20. Many fans don wait tay tay to see am for action, but coach Diego Simeone decide say make im start from bench.
For this opening fixture, Simeone set im team for 4-4-2 formation. Up front, Ademola Lookman and Arnau Ortiz go form the striking duo. For midfield, Rodrigo Mendoza, Pablo Barrios, Koke, and Carlos Martin go dey play. For defense, Dani Martinez, David Hancko, Robin Le Normand, and Jorge Dominguez go protect goal, with Jan Oblak as goalkeeper. Lee Kang-in, wey many expect to see for starting line-up, go join other big names for bench, including Jose Gimenez, Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, Alex Grimaldo, and Morten Hjulmand.
Before the match, Atletico President Enrique Cerezo talk say im get full confidence for Lee. According to Spanish media ‘Mundo Deportivo’, Cerezo tok during the introduction ceremony say, “I am convinced that Lee Kang-in go become key pillar of our team and go bring happiness to fans starting from the opening match against Malaga.” This kind statement show say the club get high hope for the player.
Lee Kang-in don dey train normal with the team since im join, and im don prepare well for this opener. Local media like Spanish publication ‘AS‘ don identify am as key second-line resource to support Julian Alvarez. Dem also say na im go take over from Antoine Griezmann, wey leave the club this summer. But coach Simeone choose to rotate some key players for first match, so Lee go wait for im chance.
Lee no hide im desire to win trophies with Atletico. During im official unveiling, the player wey sign contract until June 2031 talk say, “I come with plenty desire to help the club win titles. My ambition na to win everything.” Im also mention say veteran midfielder Koke play big role for im joining. “Koke na one of the biggest reasons why I decide to sign with the club. Im contact me directly. I dey learn plenty from am every day,” Lee explain. Im also talk about coach Simeone im passion, say “The training dey intense, but e dey fun because of the unique team atmosphere.”
Lee don inherit the number seven shirt wey Atletico great Antoine Griezmann wear before. Griezmann don go Orlando City this summer as club all-time leading scorer. Lee tok say, “As we all know, the number seven at Atleti na special number wey many legends don wear. I try not to think about am, I think about the day to day so I can help the team.” Im join Atletico from Paris Saint-Germain, where im win back-to-back Champions League titles for the last two seasons. For PSG, im score 16 goals and provide 16 assists for 124 appearances, though im game time dey limited because of plenty star players like Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia wey dey ahead of am.
Atletico finish fourth for La Liga last season, which make some people think say coach Simeone fit leave im role wey im don hold since 2009. But Simeone remain, and the club do big transfer business. Dem bring Lee, Cristian Romero, Morten Hjulmand, and Alejandro Grimaldo to strengthen the team. The club don fail to lift trophy last season, so dem try to add more quality.
For this match against Malaga, Lee go try to make im official debut for Atletico for Metropolitano, where over 60,000 home fans dey. Malaga don come back to La Liga for the first time since 2017-2018. Dem no do plenty transfer, only spend €300k to bring Juan Cruz, Fernando Calero, and Jose Salinas. After this match, Atletico go face Villarreal for La Liga Round 2 on August 24.
