Can Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) finally seize the opportunity?
There are forecasts that Lee is rapidly emerging as a candidate to be selected for the Club World Cup amid injury variables.
The official website of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) projected the starting lineup for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) ahead of their match against Atlético Madrid in the Group B stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, taking place on the 16th at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles, United States (Korea time). In this context, Lee's name has been newly mentioned.
The background of this forecast is the injury withdrawal of Ousmane Dembélé. FIFA noted, "PSG will have to face Atlético Madrid without their season's top scorer Dembélé. Accordingly, changes in the attacking lineup are inevitable." Replacement options include Gonçalo Ramos and Désiré Doué. Notably, Doué delivered an impressive performance in the UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan, scoring two goals and providing one assist.
FIFA analyzed, "Doué's performance in the match against Inter Milan may have inspired coach Enrique's tactical experimentation," adding, "Coach Enrique has seen success using Dembélé at the forefront in the early season, so he may consider using Doué in the same manner this time."
In this scenario, Lee Kang-in's name was also mentioned. It is predicted that if Doué moves to the forefront, Lee could fill the attacking position on the flank. FIFA stated, "If Doué takes the lead, the final piece of PSG's attacking triangle could be Korea's Lee Kang-in," and added, "Lee has proven his versatility by participating in 45 matches (26 starts) this season. His record of 6 goals and 6 assists strongly supports his potential for starting."
If Lee begins as a starter, it would mark his return to the starting lineup after about a month since the match against Montpellier in Ligue 1 on May 11. Following that, Lee remained on the bench in three matches: the final match of the French Ligue 1 against Auxerre, the Coupe de France final against Stade de Reims, and the UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan.
At that time, Coach Enrique actively utilized most of the first-choice players, but Lee did not even get a chance to come on as a substitute. Amid such continuous absences, concerns about Lee's diminishing position and transfer rumors have persistently emerged.
Interest is focused on whether Lee can once again prove his presence through this Club World Cup.
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