Mainz midfielder Lee Jae-sung (31) of the German Bundesliga has expressed his excitement to face off against Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae (27).
Lee departed for Germany through Incheon Airport on the morning of the 19th. He was selected by Klinsmann last month to play in the A-match and will be traveling to Germany again to prepare for the 2023-24 season.
“This will be my sixth season in Germany, and I’m always excited for the new season,” Lee said, “I’ll do my best this season, just as I’ve always been faithful.”
Lee, who made his European debut in 2018 when he left Jeonbuk Hyundai for Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga 2, signed a three-year contract with Mainz in 2021.
Recognized as one of the team’s key midfielders in the 2022-23 season with seven goals and four assists, he signed a new three-year contract with Mainz last month that will keep him with the club until 2026.
“Mainz have recognized my value and I feel very much loved by the team,” he said. I want to achieve more success with Mainz and I’m grateful to be able to continue playing in Europe,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Bundesliga icon Bayern Munich officially announced the signing of Lee’s national teammate Kim Min-jae to a five-year contract. Lee Jae-sung and Kim Min-jae are now “enemies” who will play head-to-head in Germany.
“I told Minjae congratulations,” Lee Jae-sung said, “I’m happy to see him in the Bundesliga. We’ve always been on the same team, and now we’re enemies, and I think a lot of people are looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to it too,” he laughed.
He added: “I don’t know what kind of scene we can create. I will prepare well and bring joy and happiness to many people,” he added.
“The Bundesliga is a league that is tactically ahead of global trends,” the Bundesliga senior said, adding, “Minjae should also prepare well as a team. Moving as a team is the first priority.” 메이저놀이터
When asked for advice for Min-jae, Lee Jae-sung said, “Min-jae has already had a lot of experience in Turkiye and Italy, so I don’t have anything to say,” and added, “He’s a very good player and a world-class player, so he’ll do well.”
Korean soccer is seeing an increasing number of players playing in the big leagues in Europe, including Lee Kang-in, who recently moved to Paris Saint-Germain (France), as well as Kim Min-jae and Son Heung-min (Tottenham). It’s an encouraging trend.
“I’m proud that Korean players are joining world-class clubs,” said Lee Jae-sung, “and I think Korean soccer can make an impact globally if these things build up.”
After posting career-highs of seven goals and four assists last season, Lee talked about playing every game as a goal for this season.
“My favorite thing about last season was playing all the games. It was meaningful,” he said, adding, “My personal goal this season is to play all the games without getting sick.”