Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) is going through a 'tunnel of hardship.' This is the reason he cannot smile even after confirming the league title. The cynical evaluations and uncertain future he hears both on and off the field serve as a reminder that reality is harsher than the expectations placed upon him.

French media 'Le10 Sport' reported on the 23rd (Korea time) a harsh critique from French football columnist Pierre Ménès that "Lee Kang-in was a recruitment mistake for PSG." Ménès strongly criticized, saying, "Lee Kang-in does not fit PSG. He was a 'terrible' choice." This evaluation came on the same day that he assisted the team's opening goal in the match against Nantes, marking his sixth assist of the season.

On that day, Lee Kang-in started as a right winger in the away match against Nantes and assisted Vitinha's goal in the 33rd minute of the first half. He played a total of 63 minutes, recording 1 assist, 1 shot, and creating 2 chances, earning a rating of 7.8, the third highest on the team, according to football statistics outlet 'Footmob.' However, Ménès cynically dismissed him, asking, "Isn't he a player brought in just to sell jerseys?" and belittled even the assist, calling it "a product of chance."

Ménès, a former journalist, was arrested by police in 2021 on charges of sexual assault against a former colleague. After being disgraced, he was expelled from broadcasting and later started his own YouTube channel to continue his activities.

Ménès also criticized Lee Kang-in last December. At that time, he said, "I have always claimed that Lee Kang-in is lightweight. While it is true that he scored 2 or 3 goals, I still think Lee Kang-in is lightweight."

He raised his voice, stating, "Lee Kang-in lacks personality. He has a particularly high frequency of dribbling on the side but lacks the ability to make forward passes."

He continued, "Lee Kang-in provided a good assist to Mbappé in the match against Brest, but it is still not enough. He does not meet the level required by PSG," adding that he is a player unsuitable for the team.

Additionally, at the beginning of the 2024-2025 season, he stated, "I had doubts about Lee Kang-in from the start. I saw him play at RCD Mallorca and watched him dribble, but I have no memory of ever seeing him dribble past an opponent since he moved to PSG," questioning Lee Kang-in's dribbling ability.

He added, "I have only seen Lee Kang-in retreat, and I still think PSG is too big a club for him."

While Ménès's criticisms are quite forced, they do not automatically make his points the conventional wisdom. However, this is a painful point intertwined with the internal atmosphere surrounding PSG and Lee Kang-in. In fact, over the past few months, Lee Kang-in has fallen behind in the competition for a starting position, and Coach Luis Enrique has even conducted an experiment of converting him to a defensive midfielder—a position unfamiliar and challenging for Lee Kang-in, who had shown strengths in attack.

Coach Enrique commented, "Lee Kang-in is proficient in both short and long passes. He can also play as a defensive midfielder," but this can also be interpreted as not granting Lee Kang-in a stable position. His statement that "even if he feels uncomfortable in the role, it will help his mental growth" is even more significant. However, Lee Kang-in did return to the wing forward position for the match against Nantes.

French media outlets are continuously mentioning the possibility of a summer transfer for Lee Kang-in. 'Foot 01' reported, "Lee Kang-in is not an essential resource for PSG. He needs a fresh start through a transfer or loan," while 'Sport' stated, "Crystal Palace and Manchester United are showing interest in Lee Kang-in."

Currently, PSG has competitors in each position, such as João Neves, Fabian Ruiz, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Coach Enrique's trust is directed towards others. The space for Lee Kang-in to show his unique playing style is becoming increasingly limited.

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