South Korea coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called on Lee Kang-in (22) to keep his feet on the ground as the Paris Saint-Germain playmaker continues his emergence as the country’s next great hope.
Lee was given a rousing reception when he scored twice for the Koreans in a 4-0 friendly win over Tunisia in Seoul on Friday, as he capped a month that also saw him help his country retain the gold medal at the Asian Games in China.
“It’s just a joy to work with him because he’s always in a good mood; he’s always smiling, but he’s also hungry,” Klinsmann said.
“This is what he needs to be. It’s not easy for Kang-in to stay hungry because here he’s getting treated like a pop star, which is not good because a pop star doesn’t score goals.
“He has to stay humble. He has to stay focused. He has to work hard and fight.”
Lee, who made a significant move to Spain to join Valencia’s academy as a young talent, has consistently been recognised as one of South Korea’s most promising prospects. He amassed 62 appearances for the La Liga team before transferring to Real Mallorca in 2021.
Notably, Lee participated in the World Cup finals last year, featuring in four matches, with three of them as substitutes. During the summer, he secured a 22 million-euro deal with Paris Saint-Germain.
Lee’s pivotal role in South Korea’s recent gold medal win at the Asian Games holds immense significance for his European career progression. This victory has also granted him an exemption from the mandatory military service in his home country.
“Every time he will come back to Korea, there will be I don’t know, how many people screaming for him,” Klinsmann said.
“When a club like Paris Saint-Germain takes a player from Korea, it means that it’s a very special player. Kang-in is hugely talented.
“He will now start to learn from top players in Paris what it means to play in the Champions League and also what it means to play under the pressure of winning titles.”