Paris was in the middle of a festival. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who secured tickets for the UEFA Champions League final, cheered, and home fans were ecstatic. However, someone was quietly pushed out of the center of that celebration. The name of Lee Kang-in was ultimately not called at Parc des Princes.

On the 8th (Korean time), PSG won 2-1 against Arsenal in the second leg of the semifinals of the 2024-2025 season UCL at Parc des Princes in Paris, France. After winning the first leg 1-0 away, PSG secured a final berth with an aggregate score of 3-1. It has been five years since PSG reached the brink of European supremacy since the 2019-2020 season.

The main contributors who led the team to the final that day were Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi. Ruiz shook the net first in the 27th minute of the first half, and Hakimi added a second goal in the 27th minute of the second half, dominating the flow of the game. Bukayo Saka scored a consolation goal, but it was not enough to change the momentum. Now PSG prepares for the final against Inter Milan.

However, for Lee Kang-in, who remained on the bench, that night was not very pleasant. His total playing time in the UCL tournament was just 16 minutes. Behind all the victories from the Round of 16 to the semifinals, he was essentially unable to participate in the matches. His name was not called again that day.

Until the beginning of this season, Lee Kang-in was noted as a 'multi-resource' by playing various positions. Right-wing, central midfielder, and sometimes even a false nine. However, from the midpoint of the season, the situation surrounding him changed rapidly. Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gained an advantage in the attacking competition, and Desire Doue started to emerge, further narrowing Lee Kang-in's spot.

Coach Luis Enrique started Lee Kang-in in the last league match against Strasbourg, but that decision was merely to give rest to the starting players. Lee Kang-in was substituted after complaining of shin pain just 45 minutes into the first half. He attempted to recover afterward, but remained on the bench during the match against Arsenal.

There was also a silent message. On the 6th, Lee Kang-in deleted the team name 'PSG' from his social media profile. Although there were no official statements or clarifications, the removal of that one line hinted at much. Local French media reported that this suggests 'a step towards parting ways with PSG after the end of the season,' generating daily reports about his transfer possibility.

There are various teams showing interest. Arsenal from the Premier League, as well as Manchester United and Newcastle United, are closely monitoring Lee Kang-in's situation. In particular, there are specific reports of contact, not just rumors, concerning Arsenal.

Lee Kang-in's first season with PSG is expected to be recorded with 43 appearances, 6 goals, and 6 assists. Statistically, this is a decent performance, but as the season progressed, his presence has dwindled. The fact that he has not received opportunities in big matches clearly illustrates his position within the team.

PSG has reached the final. The process was glamorous, and the result was certain. However, Lee Kang-in was not at the center of that journey. He did not underperform nor cause any particular issues, but he has gradually been pushed to the periphery of the squad. Ultimately, he was not even called in significant moments.

The possibility that Lee Kang-in's uniform will not be red and blue of Paris next season is growing.

Estadio Deportivo reported that 'Arsenal has shown consistent interest in Lee Kang-in and PSG plans to negotiate if an offer of more than 20 million euros (31.6 billion won) comes in.'

It also explained that 'Lee Kang-in has responded positively to the possibility of a transfer to Arsenal, which is being pursued at the direct request of manager Mikel Arteta.'

Circumstances indicating the possibility of transfer have also emerged. Lee Kang-in has recently drawn attention by deleting phrases related to 'PSG' on his personal social media. While there has been no official announcement, the removal of this symbolic expression is being interpreted as the start of 'a step towards separation.'

British media 'The Sun' reported that 'Arsenal has placed Lee Kang-in back on their list of targets for the summer transfer market. The club aims to have him accompany the team's Asia tour schedule (Singapore, Hong Kong), and the transfer could come together relatively quickly.'

[OSEN]