Mallorca coach Javier Aguirre has been working hard to secure a move for Lee Kang-In.

Lee made huge strides last season. In the 2022-23 season with Mallorca, Lee set career highs with six goals and six assists in La Liga. Thanks to Lee’s performance, Mallorca jumped from mid-table to mid-table and finished the season in ninth place. In addition to his kicking and playmaking abilities, Lee’s physicality, defense, and speed were all upgraded to the next level. 토토사이트

As a result of his breakout season, Lee has been linked to several big clubs. Spanish giants Atletico Madrid have been interested in Lee since January, and made a direct offer in April. However, Mallorca rejected Atletico’s €12 million offer, which included Rodrigo Riquelme.

But then things changed. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) entered the race to sign Lee. PSG have let Lionel Messi go and are looking to start a new era by bringing in proven players at a lower cost than their star-studded army. As part of that, they’re looking to sign Lee alongside Marco Asensio and Manuel Ugarte.

PSG boldly made an offer for the player that was much higher than Atletico’s. PSG offered Mallorca 22 million euros ($308 million) for the player, and the negotiations took a radical turn. It was also reported that Lee had completed his medical. On the 13th (KST), Loic Tanji of France’s L’Equipe said, “Lee Kang-in has already passed the PSG medical test in Paris earlier this week.” The transfer is in fact imminent.

In fact, the transfer is imminent. One of the most reliable sources in the transfer market, Fabrizio Romano, also said it was “only a matter of time” before Lee would move. “PSG has reached a verbal agreement with Lee Kang-in on a long-term contract,” Romano wrote on social media on Thursday. The medical has already been completed and the final details have been organized between the parties. He will join PSG very soon.”

The move was almost finalized back in January. However, at the time, Aguirre strongly encouraged him to stay. Aguirre dismissed the speculation, saying, “The transfer talks are over. No one leaves in the winter,” he said, dismissing the transfer rumors.

“I had a meeting with him, two-on-two,” he told Radio Marca. “I told him that he is an irreplaceable resource that is very important in the team right now,” he said, adding, “I had two strikers, Youssef En Nessiri and Martin Braithwaite, when I was coach of Leganes and it was very difficult for me to sell them in the winter, and I told him this anecdote.

However, Aguirre has been more cooperative than anyone in recent times with Lee’s transfer speculation. “Aguirre is now trying to rebuild the team. He wants to use the money from Lee’s departure to PSG to rebuild. Aguirre is working with the board of directors to rebuild the team.” Aguirre, who said last winter that he only wanted to keep the 메이저놀이터순위 player for half a season, has no reason to hold on to him and is sticking to his word about letting him go in the summer.

In fact, in the past, Aguirre already knew that Lee would leave at some point: “There are so many opportunities for him to go to a bigger club in the future. Personally, he’s grown the most since I’ve been coaching here, and he’s a player I care about very much.” In the end, Aguirre will be remembered as the man who helped Lee take the next step up.