LEE KANG-IN JOINS ATLÉTICO MADRID ON FIVE-YEAR DEAL

Lee Kang-in wears his Atletico Madrid uniform, in a picture posted on Atletico Madrid's Instagram page. (Atletico Madrid

South Korea international Lee Kang-in has completed a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain to Atletico Madrid, the Spanish club announced on Friday.

Atletico Madrid confirmed the signing through its official website and social media channels. Lee has signed a five-year contract that runs through June 30, 2031.

"The club has reached an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain for the transfer of South Korea international Lee Kang-in," Atletico said in a statement.

The club described Lee as a midfielder for the South Korean national team who played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and was part of PSG's UEFA Champions League-winning squads in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.

Lee will wear the No. 7 shirt at Atletico.

The move marks Lee's return to Spain's La Liga three years after leaving Mallorca for PSG in July 2023.

According to local media reports, Atletico Madrid will pay PSG a transfer fee of 35 million euros ($40 million), with an additional 5 million euros in performance-based bonuses.

Atletico Madrid is one of Spain's most successful clubs, having won 11 La Liga titles. During his five seasons in Spain before joining PSG, Lee made 135 official appearances, scoring 10 goals, including nine goals in 110 La Liga matches.

(This article was produced with the assistance of AI. — Ed.)

- Korea Herald

ARGENTINA FORWARD JULIÁN ÁLVAREZ SAYS HE WANTS OUT OF ATLETICO MADRID

 

Alvarez scored 20 goals in all competitions for AtleticoCredit: Getty

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Argentina forward Julián Álvarez wants out of Atletico Madrid.

Álvarez spoke after Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria on Monday at the World Cup in Arlington, Texas.

"The best thing for everyone is a transfer," the 26-year-old player told ESPN. "I don´t think it´s the right time to talk about this, but I can´t hide either. I have to be honest, and I spoke with people at the club, the ones I needed to talk to."

Not long after his comments were published in Spain, images of some Atletico fans burning the player's jersey were posted on social media.

Earlier this month, Real Madrid said Atletico rejected an offer of 150 million euros ($171 million) for the 26-year-old Álvarez.

The offer was part of the campaign promises made by Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez ahead of his re-election.

Barcelona is also reportedly interested in signing the talented Argentina forward.

Atletico has said it does not intend to negotiate.

Spanish media reported that there was a release clause for Álvarez worth 500 million euros ($571 million).

- AP

THIERRY HENRY LIFTS LID ON PRIVATE TALKS WITH ARSENAL STAR AFTER ATLÉTICO MADRID WIN

Thierry Henry has given an insight into Bukayo Saka's condition in the lead-up to the semi-final second leg

Thierry Henry has revealed the private injury messages he shared with Bukayo Saka ahead of Arsenal's Champions League semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid.

Saka scored the only goal as the Gunners sealed a 2-1 aggregate win at a raucous Emirates Stadium. The 24-year-old, who has had an Achilles issue, only returned to action against Fulham on Saturday, scoring the second goal before being withdrawn at half-time.

After scoring the crucial goal against Atleti, he was taken off just before the hour mark. Post-match, Henry revealed the private chats he's been having with Saka and how he is still struggling fitness-wise.

Speaking on US broadcaster CBS, Henry said: "I would love to see if we can speak to Bukayo because I want him to explain to people that being a footballer is not always about the glamorous times.

"He's been questioned all season. Can he be the guy? Is he not the guy? Is he the star boy? Is he not the star boy? Is he better than him or not better than him?

"Today, he had to play with barely any training. I know he's suffering with his Achilles tendon. I spoke to him and he came back and was like, 'I've got to be on the pitch. I've got to be on the pitch against Fulham. I have to be. It's do or die.'

"So you have to give those guys a lot of credit. Sometimes we take it for granted. We all played through injuries. We all played with moments where you're not 100% and he had to do it, deliver it for Arsenal."

Henry did get to speak Saka and said: "I know what you went through the whole season, I know what you had to endure, what you were listening to from people.

"And what you had to do to be on that field, not only today but also against Fulham. Can you explain the pain, physically and mentally, to be able to reach a final?"

Saka declined to go into details but thanked Henry for his support. The Hale End graduate said: "It's not the moment. I don't want to say I'm struggling or make people feel sorry for me. As soon as I step onto that pitch, I have to be ready for the critics if I don't perform.

"But I'm very happy today. I've been speaking to you throughout the season. You've been there for me. You know what it's been like but today's a very special moment."

- Mark Whiley

GABRIEL JESUS APPEARS TO SLAP ATLÉTICO MADRID STAR AS TEMPERS FLAIR AFYER ARSENAL WIN

Gabriel Jesus appeared to slap Marc Pubill shortly after Arsenal’s semi-final win (Picture: X)

Atletico Madrid defender Marc Pubill appeared to get slapped in the face by Gabriel Jesus as he aggressively intruded on Arsenal’s celebrations after last night’s Champions League semi-final second leg.

A week on from the sides’ 1-1 draw in Madrid, Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal to send the Gunners through to this year’s showpiece, where they will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich.

Budapest’s Puskas Arena will stage Arsenal’s second-ever appearance in a Champions League final on May 30, two decades on from the club’s painful defeat to Barcelona when Arsene Wenger was at the helm.

Wild celebrations broke out at the Emirates as referee Daniel Siebert blew his whistle to signal full-time, with Mikel Arteta’s jubilant squad soaking up the occasion with supporters inside the stadium.

But the moment took an unsavoury turn as Atleti right-back Pubill shoved an unsuspecting Viktor Gyokeres from behind, sparking a furious reaction from Cristhian Mosquera and Jesus, who had been arm-in-arm with their Swedish team-mate.

Fan footage shows Mosquera attempting to shepherd Pubill away from Gyokeres, but not before Jesus – an unused substitute on the night -appeared to land a heavy blow on the side of the Spaniard’s face – sending his head spinning backwards.

Myles Lewis-Skelly and Declan Rice were both seen trying to deescalate the situation and Pubill eventually off walked off, before making his way towards the away dressing room in north London.

Saka scored the decisive goal in north London (Picture: Getty)

It was initially unclear what had triggered Pubill to approach Gyokeres at full-time and neither manager was asked about the incident when facing the media in the immediate aftermath.

However, a separate clip doing the rounds on social media shows Gyokeres goading Pubill just moments earlier, screaming in the full-back’s direction on the halfway line.

Gyokeres gave Atleti’s defenders a torrid time for much of the clash, doing the dirty work and proving a handful in what is arguably his finest and most important performance yet for the Gunners.

‘He was immense,’ Arteta said of Gyokeres’ display when talking to Amazon Prime shortly after the final whistle.

‘You can see the reaction from the crowd every time he had the ball, his work-rate and what he’s giving the team is just incredible.’

A beaming Arteta said he had never before felt such a ‘special’ and ‘unique’ energy inside the Emirates during his reign as head coach.

‘It’s an incredible night. We made history again together. I cannot be happier and prouder of everyone involved in this football club,’ he added.

‘The manner that we got to see outside the stadium was special and unique.

Arsenal’s players soaked up the moment with fans in the Emirates crowd (Picture: Getty)

‘The atmosphere that our supporters created, the energy, the way they lived every ball with us, it made it special and unique. I never felt that in the stadium.

‘We knew how much it meant to everybody. We put everything in, the boys did an incredible job.

- Tom Olver

WESLEY SNEIJDER SAYS UEFA SHOULD HAVE CANCELED ARSENAL'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DECIDER VS ATLÉTICO MADRID BEFORE HALF-TIME & CLAIMS GUNNERS 'DON'T HAVE ANY TOP PLAYERS'

Champions League winner Wesley Sneijder has launched a scathing attack on the quality of Arsenal’s semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid, suggesting UEFA should have called the second leg clash off after just 35 minutes. Despite the Gunners winning 1-0 at the Emirates to secure a 2-1 aggregate victory, the Dutch legend was left entirely unimpressed by the spectacle.

Sneijder calls for UEFA intervention

In a damning assessment of the semi-final clash, the former Real Madrid and Inter playmaker joked that the governing body should have stepped in and stopped the match before the half-time whistle had even blown. Bukayo Saka eventually scored the winning goal of the tie, but Sneijder felt the level of football on show was far below the standard expected of such a prestigious stage in European competition.

Speaking on Ziggo Sport, the outspoken Dutchman delivered a brutal verdict on the proceedings in north London. "I said after 35 minutes, UEFA must intervene," Sneijder said. "They need to call London: both teams off the pitch, and tomorrow the final will be played between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. I knew this would happen, Atletico dropped back and gave away possession, and Arsenal had a lot of control over the ball."

Getty Images Sports

No 'top players' at the Emirates

Sneijder did not stop at criticising the match itself, as he aimed a side-swipe at the personnel available to Mikel Arteta. While the Dutchman acknowledged the manager's achievement in leading the Gunners to secure their place in the final with a hard-fought 1-0 win, he argued that the squad lacks genuine world-class talent compared to the European giants of the past.

"I looked at the players again, and Arteta already deserves a statue," Sneijder added. "He simply doesn't have any top players, and with the current squad, he manages to push Atletico back, which is impressive." The comments come despite Arsenal remaining unbeaten in the competition and conceding only six goals across 14 matches, showcasing a defensive resilience that has defined their run to Budapest.

Simeone refuses to make excuses

While Sneijder was busy questioning the quality of the match, Atleti boss Diego Simeone took a more humble approach to his side's exit. Despite a controversial moment where his team believed they should have been awarded a penalty, the Argentine refused to make excuses and instead focused on the strength of the Premier League leaders.

"If we were eliminated, it's because our opponent deserved to advance. They were clinical in the first half and earned their place. But what I feel is tranquillity, peace. The team gave everything they had," Simeone said. "We came to compete against an incredibly powerful team, and with our own strengths, we fought as hard as we could. I'm grateful to our fans, our players, and I'm proud to be where I am. I said during preseason at the stadium that we were going to compete, and we did. Unfortunately, we didn't win anything, that's true, but we reached places that aren't easy to reach."

Eyes on the final in Budapest

The Gunners will now head to Budapest to face the winner of the clash between PSG and Bayern Munich. The French side currently hold a 5-4 lead following a chaotic first leg, a match that Sneijder clearly feels represented a higher level of football than what was witnessed in London. Arteta will likely ignore the noise from the outside as he prepares his side for a historic showdown on the European stage, with Arsenal just 90 minutes away from potentially lifting their first-ever European Cup.

- Muhammad Zaki

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DIEGO SIMEONE ISSUES 'SUPERIOR' ARSENAL VERDICT AND EXPLAINS HOW GUNNERS OVERWHELMED ATLÉTICO MADRID

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has been speaking after his side’s Champions League defeat to Arsenal.

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone provided an honest verdict on his side’s heavy Champions League defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday night. The Gunners won 4-0 thanks to 13 superb second-half minutes that saw them score four goals.

Simeone has been honest about his side's defeat | Getty Images

Gabriel Magalhaes scored in the 57th minute, then Gabriel Martinelli scored to make it two before Viktor Gyokeres put the game firmly beyond reach with a much-needed brace after a slow start in front of goal for the Gunners.

The win means Arsenal have made it three wins from as many games in the Champions League, while Atletico have now won once and lost twice. There are still five games remaining in the league phase, so it’s hardly panic stations from Atletico, who did make this a close contest until that wild 13 minutes that saw them slip quickly out of the picture.

"They were superior and very decisive in that part of the match,” Atleti boss Simeone said after the game. “After the set piece goal, things went their way with merit. They demanded our all until the 1-0 lead. The team worked well, ran, and were overtaken by a team that was better."

He added on the key moments in the game: "Julian's (Alvarez) shot went wide of the post in the first half. Small details that could have turned the game around for us. But the opponent is very strong in all lines; overall, everyone runs, and that takes away time to think. Up until the first goal, we were comfortable with the game, and in that 13-minute stretch, they were decisive."

Arsenal opened the scoring through a set-piece when Declan Rice delivered the ball perfectly for Gabriel. "I've always loved set pieces, and there are teams that work them very well,” Simeone admitted. “They have incredible value in every game. When you break the game open with a set piece, you've come a long way."

Gyokeres on his brace

Gyokeres hasn’t had much luck in front of goal for Arsenal since arriving in the summer, scoring three times in eight league appearances, and he has only scored in two league games. But the Sweden international looked like the lethal striker Arsenal want him to be against Atleti, scoring twice, and he was delighted after the game.

“I am very pleased,” he told Prime Video. “They had some good opportunities but I think we controlled it overall. To score four and keep a clean sheet again is very good. We always keep going. We do the things right when we defend and when we get the chances we are extremely strong in taking those.

"Both [my] goals were great. I try to do my best all the time and work hard, contribute with different stuff and the goals would have come sooner or later. We want to do well, we want to win football matches but there's a long journey to go. We will take it game-by-game, even if that sounds boring."

- Jamie Kemble

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