Let me tell you guys a very interesting story. You know when I say something is interesting, you have to believe me🍿
Lee Kang-in was scouted at the age of 10 in Korea, and invited for trials in Valencia which he aced.
According to FIFA rules, a 10 year old boy cannot be transferred to Europe from another continent. That’s why you see players like Estevao, they have to be 18 before they move. Anything less than 18 years old, you’re a minor.
However, there’s an exception to this rule. If your parents will relocate with you, but they must not relocate BECAUSE OF YOU. That is, they will not relocate for footballing reasons.
Once your parents relocate with you to that country for non-footballing reasons, then the club can sign you.
Brethren, most footballers you see that have succeeded, there’s a parent that has made crazy sacrifices for them. Even in the UK, from the age of 5, parents are taking their kids to training everyday, traveling with them for trials even if they fail most of them, taking them to school equally, and still having to work to pay bills. Parents are everything.
Guess what happened with Kang-in Lee?
His father relocated to Valencia way before he was going to join the Valencia academy. His father opened a taekwondo studio in Valencia and started training people how to fight taekwondo. The man couldn’t even speak Spanish, but learned.
That was a source of income, so his father’s relocation was treated as “relocation for non-footballing reasons”, which will qualify 10 year old Kang-in Lee to be signed by Valencia from abroad.
His mother also resigned from her job as an Hospital Administrator in Korea, to join her husband in running the Taekwondo studio in Valencia, Spain. It doesn’t stop there, his two sisters also relocated. The whole family relocated for the dream of a 10-year old who they weren’t sure was going to make it.
The talent was there, but he had to make it. He MUST make it. The whole family left their lives to focus on his, no chance of not making it😅
For people wondering, this was how the underage rule didn’t affect 10 year old Kang-in Lee.
Hope you enjoyed this little story. Was it interesting like I promised?
I don’t know about you, but even when I’m down or not in a good mood, the sound of Kwesi Arthur’s voice and music makes everything better. I automatically start smiling, my mood changes, and somehow, I’m happy again. 😂❤️🫶🏾✨
top 4 feelings:
1. showering when no one's home.
2. playing music and singing when no one's home.
3. coming home to an empty house.
4. cleaning when no one's home.