Lee Kang-in's Atlético Madrid Debut Delayed by Travel Permit Issues; South Korea Match Likely

South Korean football star Lee Kang-in's highly anticipated debut for his new club, Atlético Madrid, has been postponed due to administrative hurdles. The midfielder, who recently transferred from Paris Saint-Germain, is currently in South Korea and awaiting government approval to travel to Spain.

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Lee's time is running out. The new Atlético player is still waiting for government permission.

According to Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo, players who have received exemptions from military service, like Lee, require special permission to travel abroad. While Atlético Madrid anticipated this issue would be resolved quickly, the approval process has taken longer than expected. This delay means Lee missed Atlético's first preseason match against Getafe and will also be absent for the game against Manchester United.

Instead of joining his teammates in Europe, Lee is expected to make his first appearance for Atlético Madrid in a friendly match against Manchester City, scheduled to take place in South Korea on August 9. This situation, while frustrating for the player and the club, creates a unique opportunity for his debut to occur in his home country.

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For players like Lee, who have been exempted from military service, legal permission is absolutely necessary to travel abroad. The club expects this issue to be resolved soon.

Despite not being able to train with his new team yet, Lee is maintaining his fitness by following a personalized training plan provided by Atlético's coaching staff. His official debut in La Liga is anticipated for the season opener on August 20 against Malaga.

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It makes no sense for him to go to Europe and then return to Asia just two days later.