Could Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) write another myth in Naples?

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will compete for the championship trophy against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final for the 2024-25 season, which will be held at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, at 4 a.m. on June 1 (Korea time).

Having already claimed the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France titles, PSG is challenging for the 'treble.' This is the club's first challenge for the Champions League title in its history. PSG finished as runners-up in 2020, but has yet to win the Champions League.

Reports have emerged that it is unfortunate that Lee Kang-in may not participate in this season's most important match. According to WhoScored.com, Lee Kang-in's name was disappointingly absent from the predicted starting lineup for the PSG Champions League final. The 4-3-3 PSG is expected to include Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, Dow, Luis, Vitinha, Neves, Mendes, Pacho, Marquinhos, Hakimi, and Gianluigi Donnarumma as their best players.

ESPN also excluded Lee Kang-in from their projections. On the 31st, ESPN announced a selection of '30 players who could impact the Champions League final.' Unfortunately, Lee Kang-in's name was not mentioned anywhere.

ESPN ranked Ousmane Dembélé, Lautaro Martínez, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Alessandro Bastoni as the top five players. The goalkeepers from both teams, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Yann Sommer, were tied for 11th place.

In addition to the best XI from both teams, the names of Lee Kang-in's teammates, such as Warren Zaïre-Emery (25th), Gonçalo Ramos (27th), and Lucas Hernández (30th), were mentioned as possible substitutes. However, Lee Kang-in's name was not found anywhere, indicating that he is left out from even being a key bench member.

If PSG wins but Lee Kang-in cannot play, it could be a bittersweet victory. Lee Kang-in did not get playing time in PSG's final Ligue 1 match either. This season, Lee Kang-in has contributed six goals and five assists for PSG's success but has not been able to celebrate.

Coach Luis Enrique does not seem to trust Lee Kang-in. Lee Kang-in was once again excluded from the starting lineup in the Coupe de France final, where victory was at stake. He remained on the substitute bench without stepping onto the pitch for even a second.

In a situation where three goals were scored in the first half to lead 3-0, Coach Luis Enrique did not consider Lee Kang-in at all while introducing Hernández, Beraud, Gonçalo Ramos, Maylu, and Zaïre-Emery in the second half. This is the reason for the rumors about Lee Kang-in's transfer.

At this point, Lee Kang-in is mentioned as a third or fourth option behind the starting player Khvicha and the key bench member Désiré Doué. He is falling behind not just as a winger but also as a central midfielder. Ultimately, it is disappointing for Lee Kang-in that he has lagged behind in competition.

Naturally, interest in Lee Kang-in's transfer is expected to heat up. If he does not participate in the UEFA Champions League final, it would openly demonstrate PSG's intention to view him as outside the active roster. Meanwhile, several top clubs are enamored with Lee Kang-in's exceptional skill and left-footed abilities.

At this point, the team with strong links to Lee Kang-in is Napoli, a Serie A outsider. Napoli wanted to include Lee Kang-in in a trade when selling Khvicha, but it fell through. With Antonio Conte returning to the team, there is strong hope for reinforcing the squad.

In the case of Napoli, both the coach and the club evaluate him as a desired pick. According to the Napoli specialized media 'Arena Napoli,' "Napoli's Director General Cristiano Giovan Battista has highly praised Lee Kang-in's performance at PSG, and there are substantive internal discussions underway for his acquisition."

Amid this, Napoli's pursuit of Lee Kang-in is intriguing. According to multiple Italian media outlets, including Il Manito, Napoli is preparing to revamp their attack this summer and has listed two wingers as part of their acquisition plans. Despite being a non-EU player, Lee Kang-in is regarded as the 'top priority' by Director General Giovan Battista.

Director General Giovan Battista is reported to have highly valued Lee Kang-in's ability to evade pressure and his creativity in utilizing tight spaces. Within the club, discussions are even underway about making Lee Kang-in the centerpiece of their tactics for the next two to three years. Coach Conte's re-signing is also likely to significantly strengthen the push for Lee Kang-in's acquisition.

/mcadoo@soen.co.kr

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