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Valencia spotted a six-year-old Lee Kangin on a reality TV show

Lee watched their Copa del Rey conquest from Poland

The 18-year-old is determined to help Korea Republic past Japan Lee Kangin has impressed with his maturity at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019, despite being the youngest member of the Korea Republic squad. Such is his ease on the ball that it is not hard to see why Valencia handed him his La Liga debut in January. In coming on in the 86th minute of his side’s 1-1 draw with Real Valladolid, he became the second-youngest player to appear in the 2018/19 Spanish top flight, at the age of 17 years, ten months and 24 days. Only Ander Barrenetxea of Real Sociedad was younger, at 16 years, 11 months and 24 days. Lee owes his presence in Spain to his appearance on a Korean TV reality show called Shoot Dori. Though he was only six at the time, that did not stop him from catching the eye of Valencia’s scouts, who signed him up for the club’s training academy.

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At 10 years old, Kangin Lee and his family left their country behind so that he could trial for Valencia CF... He has never left 🧡



➡️ https://t.co/fKb7OxiGFw pic.twitter.com/7BXljDYdg1 — Valencia CF English 🦇💯 (@valenciacf_en) July 22, 2018

One of the highlights of Lee's fledgling career came when his side took on local rivals Levante in the Valencia derby. “It was my first match at the Mestalla and it was an unforgettable occasion for me, my family and all my friends,” he said. There were more happy memories for Lee when, much to his delight, Valencia upset Barcelona in the recent Copa del Rey final: “I watched the match on TV in Poland and I was so, so happy at the end. I took the opportunity to congratulate everyone at my club.”