Atletico's Diego Simeone on the hunt for future Korean stars

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is paying close attention to the players on display while visiting Korea this week after the Spanish club failed to sign midfielder Lee Kang-in this summer.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone speaks during a pre-game press conference at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul on Wednesday ahead of Thursday's preseason game against Team K League. [YONHAP]

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is paying close attention to the players on display while visiting Korea this week after the Spanish club failed to sign midfielder Lee Kang-in this summer.

Atletico arrived in Korea Tuesday to participate in the Coupang Play Series — an annual exhibition series launched last year — to play Team K League on Thursday and Manchester City on Sunday.

Team K League is an all-star team made up of 22 K League 1 players picked by fans and coaching staff for the sole purpose of playing a single game against Atletico.

“There were rumors that we were interested in him, but Lee signed with Paris Saint-Germain,” Simeone said during a pre-game press conference at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s preseason game against Team K League. “I think Korean football is continually developing and I will see if any Korean players interest me in tomorrow’s match.”

Lee was linked to Atletico this summer after displaying an outstanding performance at his former team Mallorca, where he managed six goals and seven assists during the 2022-23 La Liga season.

The 22-year-old midfielder, however, moved to PSG earlier this month, ending the speculation that he could become the first-ever Korean footballer to play for Atletico.

The La Liga side instead signed other players like defenders Santiago Mourino and Caglar Soyuncu.

“There were a lot of injured players [last season], but it is good that we recruited a lot of young players,” captain Koke said. “I think we will have a chance to reinforce our squad since the transfer window has not closed yet."

Thursday’s match against Team K League gives manager Simeone an option to consider signing players directly from the K League, which he has never done before.

He has also never been active in signing players from Asia, but this year’s preseason tour may change that precedent.

A few Korean players like Paik Seung-ho and Ki Sung-yueng that played in La Liga after Simeone took charge of his side in 2011 failed to make it onto his radar, as they both failed to shine in Spain.

Atletico Madrid became one of the best La Liga teams after Simeone took charge of the team, challenging Spanish giants FC Barcelona and Real Madrid and winning the league twice in 2014 and 2021 as well as the Europa League twice in 2012 and 2018.

Whether Simeone will make a bid for any Korean players remains to be seen, as the European transfer window will stay open until Sept. 1. There have already been a number of Korean players heading to Europe this summer, including Brentford signee Kim Ji-soo, FC Midtjylland signee Cho Gue-sung and Celtic duo Yang Hyun-jun and Kwon Hyeok-kyu.

Atletico will first complete their preseason tour in Korea with a match against Team K League, whom they were due to face as of press time Thursday and another game against Manchester City on Sunday.

Both matches are scheduled to take place at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul, kicking off at 8 p.m.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]