Paolo Stringara (63), who worked as a coach for the South Korean national football team, argued that Napoli should definitely sign Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain).

Italy's 'Area Napoli' reported on the 30th (Korea time) that "Stringara, a former football player, mentioned the possibility of Napoli signing Lee Kang-in while discussing the UEFA Champions League final. He recommended bringing Lee Kang-in to Napoli."

Born in 1962, Stringara is a footballer from Italy. He played as a defensive midfielder for Inter Milan, Bologna, and Siena during his career and transitioned to coaching after retiring, managing several teams within his home country. However, most of his tenures ended in failure, and he never led a Serie A team.

Korean football has a direct connection to Lee Kang-in as well. Stringara served as a member of Jurgen Klinsmann's coaching staff, being appointed as the coach of the South Korean national team in 2023, where he also resided in Korea. However, due to underperformance in Klinsmann's regime, the team’s exit from the Asian Cup quarter-finals, and internal conflicts among the players, he left the national team with Coach Klinsmann in less than a year.

Stringara first discussed the UEFA Champions League (UCL) final between PSG and Inter, which will be held on June 1. He stated through '1 Station Radio', "I think PSG's way of interpreting football is similar to Barcelona's. However, PSG has 4 to 5 players who have experience playing in Italy. This is a huge advantage. They understand the unique 'cunning' of Italian football, which wasn’t present in Barcelona."

He added, "There were many talented players, but many were too naive. In contrast, PSG seems to me a more experienced and wiser team. Inter must not repeat the mistakes it made a few years ago against Manchester City, where they appeared as sacrificial lambs. That match was not one-sided."

Despite this, he refrained from naming a favorite to win. Stringara stated, "This time, there’s no clear favorite for the championship. I see the final as 50-50. Although Inter lost, they have experience from having already played in a final, and many players are seizing their last chance for a UEFA Champions League title. It's a match where victory and defeat are essential. Let's do our best for the future of Italian football."

Recently, talk also arose regarding Lee Kang-in, who has been linked with a transfer to Napoli. He is aiming for his first appearance in a UCL final. Having fallen out of favor under Coach Luis Enrique in the latter half of the season, his participation remains uncertain, but he has arrived in Munich, Germany, where the final will be held, with his teammates.

Stringara strongly recommended Napoli pursue Lee Kang-in. He said, "Lee Kang-in is a player who can excite both Napoli fans and the entire Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. He possesses amazing skills and speed, so if it were me, I would sign him immediately."

Stringara also emphasized, "This year, there has been almost no place for Lee Kang-in at PSG. However, we are talking about a team full of great champions. He is one of the players who can suddenly create a numerical advantage. He is a typical player who fits very well with Italian football. He can truly make a difference."

Lee Kang-in is likely to part ways with PSG this summer. Matteo Moreto from Spain's 'Relevo' recently reported, "Negotiations between Lee Kang-in and PSG for a contract renewal have reached a standstill. He could be one of the major star players in the summer transfer market."

Moreto also explained, "Several clubs are closely monitoring Lee Kang-in's situation. However, so far, no club has finalized an agreement with PSG. Napoli, Premier League clubs, Spanish clubs, and Saudi Arabian clubs are all showing interest in him."

Moreto is one of the most credible journalists in Spain. In particular, he has previously shown affection for Lee Kang-in while covering Mallorca. During the 2022-2023 season, he reported the transfer rumors surrounding Lee Kang-in the fastest, garnering significant attention.

Spain's 'Estadio Deportivo' also reported, "Lee Kang-in is ready to conclude his time at PSG. The club has allowed his transfer as they prepare for the next season. Arsenal is showing interest in him, and his transfer fee has already been set."

The main reason is the significantly reduced playing time. Since the winter transfer market, Lee Kang-in’s position has been limited. He has played in various positions and alleviated Coach Enrique’s concerns, but he could not establish a firm position and has turned into a rotation resource. In fact, Lee Kang-in has only been sitting on the bench during the crucial UEFA Champions League (UCL) matches.

Lee Kang-in has also been unable to get on the field lately. He remained on the bench during the final league match against Auxerre and did not play a single minute in the Coupe de France final against Stade Reims, showing that he is completely excluded from Coach Enrique’s plans. His participation in the UCL final against Inter also seems difficult to guarantee.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of teams showing interest in Lee Kang-in. Teams from England, Italy, Spain, and Saudi Arabia are reportedly expressing interest in him. Not only Napoli but also AC Milan, Juventus, Manchester United, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Atletico Madrid, and Villarreal are among the names being mentioned.

Among them, the team showing the greatest interest is Napoli. Italy's 'Il Mattino' reported, "Napoli is pursuing Lee Kang-in and is ready to make a decisive attack." It added, "Lee Kang-in is a natural left-footed player, but he usually plays on the right side, cutting inside. While he is contracted with PSG until 2028, he could decide to transfer."

'Gazzetta dello Sport' also reported that Giovanni Manna, sports director of Napoli, is "crazy about Lee Kang-in." The outlet stated, "Lee Kang-in's value is around 30 million euros (about 47 billion won), but he is a player who meets the standards set by Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis himself. He can strengthen Napoli's attacking power," and noted that "Director Manna holds special affection for 24-year-old Lee Kang-in, who has been overshadowed by powerful competitors at PSG."

Napoli was linked with Lee Kang-in during the last winter transfer market as well. At that time, during PSG's process of acquiring Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli, Lee Kang-in's name emerged as a trade target. However, this was not realized as PSG decided to retain Lee Kang-in.

The situation is different now. 'Il Mattino' reported, "The circumstances have completely changed, and the possibility of a transfer is wide open. PSG will not actively block a transfer if appropriate offers come in. They especially maintain a good relationship with Napoli. PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi recently made several significant acquisitions, including Kvaratskhelia," and noted, "President De Laurentiis is looking for significant discounts. This is something to keep an eye on."

[Photo] PSG, Kicking Cleats, Transfermarkt, Lee Kang-in's social media.

[사진] PSG, 키킹 클리츠, 트랜스퍼마크트, 이강인 소셜 미디어.

[OSEN]