The local media pointed out the reason why Mallorca let go of Lee Kang-in (21, Mallorca). He was brought in for zero dollars, so they decided to let him go this summer as a moral commitment.
Spanish media outlet ‘Ocadario’ reported on July 2 (KST), “If Lee Kang-in leaves for 20 million euros (about 282 billion won), it will be a huge profit for Mallorca. Lee came to Mallorca from Valencia for a transfer fee of zero. There must be some kind of moral commitment.”먹튀검증
Mallorca signed Lee from Valencia in 2021, and while he made it to the first team with the Valencia youth team, he didn’t get the playing time he thought he would. He stayed one more time at the insistence of the higher-ups, but his promise was reversed and he ended up on the bench. He left his youth team and joined Mallorca as a free agent.
Mallorca signed Lee to a four-year contract. The four-year deal includes a €30 million buyout clause. Lee bounced between the starting lineup and the bench in his debut season with Mallorca, but in his second season, he perfected his game to become a regular in the team. His left foot was sharper, he was more active, and he became more involved in the defense. Under Javier Aguirre, he partnered with Mourinho to become the first South Korean to score multiple goals and record double-digit offensive points in the Primera Liga.
A sparkling performance at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November has also seen him linked with top clubs. There have been rumors of a move to a Premier League team, and Atletico Madrid have been quite active. However, Atletico Madrid were not willing to pay the buyout that Mallorca had set in the winter transfer window. Mallorca also shut down all speculation, stating that the player would not be sold unless the buyout amount was met.
Despite not being able to make a move in the winter, Lee pushed harder. He partnered with frontline striker Mourinho to lead Mallorca’s attack. Mallorca secured their stay in the Primera Liga just before the final round of matches.
With more offers on the table this summer, there’s no stopping him. Mallorca president Pablo Ortells told Spanish radio station Ondaçero: “We have decided to let Lee go this summer. With the money we get from him, we will add six or seven players that the coach wants.”
Mallorca are willing to pay only €20 million for the player instead of the €30 million buyout. Atletico Madrid are still linked to the player, while Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also monitoring him. Some have even extended the speculation to Napoli, where Kim Min-jae plays. In the Primera Liga, Real Betis are also in the mix.
Mallorca are already preparing to fill the void left by Lee. They”re looking for proven players in the Spanish Primera Liga. According to reports, they’re looking at a number of players, including Real Valladolid’s Silas Larin. A player like Lee Kang-in who can play alongside main striker Mourinho is a top priority.
The final match of the 38th round of the 2022-23 Spanish Primera Liga against Rayo Vallecano at home on May 5 is expected to be Lee’s farewell match. “It’s time to say goodbye to the wizard,” said ‘Futbol de Mallorca’, while ‘Ocadario’ wrote: “The greatest soccer player of the last decade is leaving. The moment the lights go out in Mallorca’s home stadium in the final, the wizard of Mallorca will be gone.”