Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| Lee Kang-in in action for Valencia CF during the Copa del Rey Round of 16 match against Sporting de Gijon in Spain this year. Yonhap |
By Ko Dong-hwan
Teenager Lee Kang-in, a sensation in Spanish professional football league La Liga, has been called into the Korean national squad.
Valencia CF's attacking midfielder recently accepted a call from Korean national team head coach Paulo Bento to join the squad for matches against Bolivia and Colombia on Mar. 22 and 26, respectively. The Portuguese commander announced the national roster of 27 players at Paju National Football Center on Monday.
According to Korean media specializing in European football news, Bento flew to Spain to meet Lee. Bento appears to have brought in the youthful striker to strengthen the national team with young guns for the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
 |
| Lee will have his first Team Korea meeting on Mar. 18. Yonhap |
Bento believes Lee has excellent techniques and big potential, according to reports.
Valencia reported Lee's move to Seoul online, saying Bento "has given Lee his first chance."
Lee played for the South Korean U-18 and U-19 teams. He will have his first Team Korea meeting on Mar. 18 as the seventh-youngest player in the national team's history.
Joining Valencia academy in 2011, Lee made his debut in October 2018 when he played 83 minutes against CD Ebro in the Spanish knockout football tournament Copa del Rey.
