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24살 동갑내기 프리미어 리거인 김보경 (카디프시티) 과 기성용(스완지시티)의 행보가 시즌 초반 엇갈리고 있다.
김보경은 지난 시즌 소속팀이 2부 리그에서 1부 리그로 승격되면서 자연스럽게 프리미어 리거가 되었다. 김보경은 25일 (현지시간) 열린 맨체스터 시티와의 홈경기에서 활약하며 팀의 사상 첫 프리미어 리그 승리를 견인했다.
그는 팀이 1대0으로 뒤지고 있는 후반 프레이저 켐벨에게 정확한 패스를 연결했으며, 비록 켐벨의 슛은 불발되었지만 튀어나온 공을 애런 군나르손이 마무리하며 동점골을 넣었다.
축구 매체 골 닷컴 역시 군나르손의 골을 “창조했다(creator)”라고 평가하며 팀 내 세번째 로 높은 평점인 별점 세개 반을 선사했다. (다섯 개 만점)
반면 1년 더 먼저 프리미어 리그를 밟은 기성용은 올 시즌 프로의 가혹함을 경험하고 있다.
지난주 언론 보도에 이어 미카엘 라우드럽 스완지 시티 감독과의 불화설이 드러났던 기성용은 현재 새 소속팀을 찾고 있는 것으로 알려졌다.
주전 경쟁에서 밀린데 이어 25일 토트넘과의 경기에서 출전 명단에 이름을 올리지 못한 기성용은 지동원이 뛰고 있는 선덜랜드와 에버튼으로의 임대 이적이 유력하게 언급되고 있다.
한편 기성용이 빠진 스완지시티는 이날 경기에서 토트넘에 1대0으로 패하면서 개막 이후 2연패를 당했다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Ki Sung-yueng benched for 2nd straight game
South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-yueng on Sunday was left off the roster for the second straight game, giving weight to a rumor that his stint with the Welsh football club may be drawing to a close.
Swansea City played an away game against Tottenham Hotspur without Ki and fell 1-0, marking their second straight loss in the Premier League’s 2013-14 season. They have yet to score a single goal.
It was also the second straight game for which Ki failed to even make the roster. Out of two Premier League games and three UEFA Europa League playoffs Swansea played this season, Ki only played the field in two.
The 24-year-old Ki is rumored to be seeking a new team in Europe, a move that will cut short his tenure with Swansea that began when he signed a three-year, 6 million pound (10.4 billion won) deal with the team in 2012.
Yonhap News Agency, citing a source well acquainted with European football, reported last week that Ki is looking to leave the team after a fallout with his head coach Michael Laudrup.
According to Welsh media, Sunderland AFC is one of the potential suitors for the South Korean. Ji Dong-won, Ki’s teammate on the Korean national team, is currently playing for Sunderland.
Ki, who made a name for himself for his physical play, passing prowess and accurate kicks, made the move to Britain’s top league after a successful run with Scottish Premier League champion Celtic FC.
Ki also represented South Korea in 51 international matches. He was a member of the 2010 FIFA World Cup team that reached the round of 16 in South Africa and 2012 Olympic squad that took home the bronze medal.
Ki married actress Han Hye-jin in July.
By Yoon Min-sik
(minsiyoon@heraldcorp.com)
