Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) spoke about transfer rumors following the end of the World Cup qualifiers.
The South Korea national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, faced Kuwait on the 10th in the 10th match of Group B in the final Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Seoul World Cup Stadium, winning decisively 4-0.
With this victory, Korea secured 22 points (6 wins, 4 draws) and finished the final qualifiers without a loss.
Korea had already confirmed at least second place in the group with 19 points (5 wins, 4 draws) after a 2-0 victory against Iraq on the 6th with consecutive goals from Kim Jin-kyu and Oh Hyun-kyu, securing its 11th consecutive World Cup qualification early. The match ended with a 4-0 victory and became a festive occasion for the national team to share the joy with home fans.
Korea recorded an undefeated streak in the final qualifiers for the first time in 15 years since 2010. After shamefully losing to the UAE in an away match on March 29, 2022, and failing to remain unbeaten in the final qualifiers for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Korea has concluded this time on a positive note without a loss.
Korea took the lead in the 30th minute of the first half with an own goal from Kuwait, and Lee Kang-in and Oh Hyun-kyu scored consecutive goals in the 6th and 9th minutes of the second half, boosting the momentum. Subsequently, in the 27th minute of the second half, substitute Lee Jae-sung scored the fourth goal, marking a perfect victory.
Lee Kang-in, who excelled that day, is now waiting for a decision that could greatly impact his European football career. He is likely to seek a new challenge as he has fallen behind in the competition for a starting position at Paris Saint-Germain. Lee is currently drawing strong interest from Serie A champion Napoli and Al Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo plays.
Objectively, since joining Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023, Lee Kang-in has played as a versatile asset switching between the flanks and central positions, recording 6 goals and 6 assists in 45 official matches. The team achieved a 'treble' including League 1, Coupe de France, and UEFA Champions League, but Lee has somewhat lagged behind in the competition for a starting role in the second half, though his potential has not disappeared.
At the current moment, Napoli has singled out Lee Kang-in as their 'top target' in order to bolster their creative midfield. Following the completion of acquiring Kevin De Bruyne from Manchester City, they aim to sign Lee simultaneously to form a powerful second line. In fact, Italian media outlet 'Spazio Napoli' reported that on that day, 'Napoli reached a principled agreement with PSG regarding the acquisition of Lee Kang-in.'
The transfer fee is reported to have been adjusted from the initial demand of 40 million euros from PSG to between 30 million and 35 million euros.
After the match against Kuwait, Lee Kang-in, who met in the mixed zone, said, 'I don't know what will happen next. The season hasn't ended yet, and the transfer market hasn't opened,' showing his characteristic smile. He added, 'I don't have any discussions with the club, and I'm in a situation where I'm seeing it in articles,' and gave a meaningful laugh.
If Lee Kang-in joins Napoli as rumored, he will form a formidable duo with De Bruyne. De Bruyne, often mentioned as the best midfielder in Premier League history, was born in 1991 and still possesses exceptional skills; however, he is likely to have limited playing time.
Thus, the combination of Lee Kang-in and De Bruyne is highly likely to be a perfect match. Initially, they will connect from the midfield, and as Lee absorbs De Bruyne's skill, he will develop into a more outstanding player, naturally seeking to succeed him. It creates a situation where the best connection and synergy are possible.
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