Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Sorloth's muscle injury adds to Atletico Madrid's striker crisis
A soccer team in Spain called Atletico Madrid is getting ready for a new season, but they have some problems.
One of their strikers, Alexander Sorloth, hurt a muscle in his leg and will miss the first games of the season.
Another player, Julian Alvarez, might leave the team because FC Barcelona is interested in signing him.
Even if he stays, he only came back for training on Monday after a three-week holiday following the World Cup final, so he probably won't be ready for the first match.
The team also lost star Antoine Griezmann, who moved to the United States, and sold Thiago Almada to River Plate.
Now Ademola Lookman is the only player left to play as a makeshift striker.
But there is good news: Atletico signed Lee Kang-in, a talented midfielder from South Korea, from Paris Saint-Germain.
Lee won two Champions League and three Ligue 1 titles with PSG and is coming back to La Liga, where he started his career as a kid.
Atletico's season begins with a match against Malaga on August 19.
Alexander Sorloth suffered a muscle contracture and will miss Atletico Madrid's opening matches of the new season.
Julian Alvarez's future remains uncertain amid interest from FC Barcelona, and he is unlikely to be fit for the August 19 opener against Malaga.
With Antoine Griezmann departed and Thiago Almada sold to River Plate, Ademola Lookman is the only makeshift striker option.
Atletico signed South Korea international Lee Kang-in from Paris Saint-Germain for around 40 million euros (roughly 45.5 million US dollars).
Lee Kang-in returns to La Liga having made 124 PSG appearances, scoring 16 goals and winning two Champions League and three Ligue 1 titles.
- Who
- Atletico Madrid and its players, including injured striker Alexander Sorloth, uncertain signing Julian Alvarez, and new arrival Lee Kang-in.
- What
- A muscle injury to Sorloth complicated Atletico's start to the season, while the club signed Lee Kang-in from Paris Saint-Germain.
- When
- The injury was announced on a Wednesday, ahead of Atletico's La Liga opener against Malaga on August 19.
- Where
- Madrid, Spain, in Spain's top football league La Liga.
- Why
- Atletico faces a striker shortage because of Sorloth's injury, uncertainty over Alvarez, and the departures of Antoine Griezmann and Thiago Almada.
- Injury
- Muscle contracture for Alexander Sorloth; will miss opening matches
- Transfer fee
- Around 40 million euros (about 45.5 million US dollars) for Lee Kang-in
- Contract
- Lee Kang-in signed with Atletico until the end of June 2031
- PSG record
- 124 appearances, 16 goals for Lee Kang-in
- PSG titles
- Two Champions League and three Ligue 1 titles won by Lee Kang-in
- International career
- 50 caps for South Korea, including the 2022 and 2026 World Cups
- La Liga opener
- Atletico Madrid vs Malaga on August 19
- Summer signings
- Three: Lee Kang-in, Alex Grimaldo, and Morten Hjulmand