Lee Kang-in to miss September friendlies, Asian Games questionable

Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in falls on the pitch during a French Ligue 1 match against Lorient on August 12. [AFP/YONHAP]

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in will be out until the middle of September with a quadriceps injury, the French club announced Tuesday.

“With a left quadriceps injury, Kang-In Lee will remain in treatment until at least the end of the international break,” the club announced in a brief statement on their website.

It is not clear when Lee sustained the injury. The 22-year-old midfielder has started both PSG games so far this season, playing 82 minutes in the opener against FC Lorient last week and 51 minutes against Toulouse on Saturday.

There was no indication that he was injured as he left the pitch during the Toulouse game.

The injury makes Lee unavailable for the entirety of the international break, taking him out of the Korean squad for a Sept. 7 friendly against Wales and a Sept. 12 friendly against Saudi Arabia in Newcastle. Both games are set to be played in Britain.

The timing also casts serious doubts over Lee’s availability for the 2023 Asian Games, where he is expected to lead the Korean U-24 lineup as it looks to defend its title as the reigning gold medal winners.

The Asian Games starts after the international break, but according to Korean national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann last week, Lee has stipulated in his contract with PSG that he be allowed to take part.

Attending the Asian Games could prove crucial for Lee’s career, as the tournament is a rare chance for him to earn a mandatory military exemption if Korea wins a gold medal at the Asiad. Both Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur and Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich earned their exemptions from the 2018 tournament.

Lee joined PSG this summer from La Liga club Mallorca for 22 million euros ($24 million).

A versatile midfielder with a serious turn of speed and some fancy footwork among his arsenal, Lee has been a well-watched player for years as a promising playmaker with energy to spare. His arrival at PSG comes alongside the departure of major figures in the club’s recent history, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Lee has repeatedly been highlighted as a key figure in the club’s rebuild, expected to take a dominant role in the midfield and as a playmaker feeding the ball to the likes of Gonçalo Ramos and Kylian Mbappe.

His injury comes at a difficult time, not just for Korea but also for PSG and potentially for his career as well.

Lee is now sidelined in what will undoubtedly prove to be a crucial time as manager Luis Enrique restructures the team for the new season, leaving a big question mark over how he will fit into it when he finally returns in October.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]