Bedard Mourinho, who has been playing alongside Lee Kang-jin at RCD Mallorca in the Spanish Primera Liga this season, has revealed his affection for the Korean international.
“My little burader!” he wrote on Instagram on Aug. 26 (KST), alongside a photo of Lee Kang-in. Literally, ‘burader’ is a Korean word.
In the 19th minute of a 0-0 draw against Valencia in the 36th round of the 2022-23 Spanish Primera Liga at Mallorca’s Son Moi Stadium, 메이저놀이터 Mourinho headed in Lee’s cross. Mourinho’s goal would prove to be the game-winner, giving Mallorca a 1-0 victory.
Mourinho joined Mallorca in the winter transfer window from SS Lazio (Italy).
His arrival was a salvation for Mallorca. He scored five goals and provided three assists in 16 games to lead Mallorca to a dramatic stay up.
After only half a season, Mourinho has been able to settle in and play alongside Lee, who has fulfilled his potential. Much like Son and Kane, who share a lot of the goals for Tottenham Hotspur, the duo have found the back of the net in Mallorca.
Mourinho scored his first goal of the season in the second round against Real Betis, heading home a cross from Lee Kang-In.
He followed it up with his third goal of the season in the fifth round when he headed home a free kick from Lee Kang-in. Going into the game against Valencia, Lee had five assists this season, three of which were for Mourinho.
Mourinho also assisted on Lee’s goal. Against Athletic Bilbao, Mourinho played a cutback to Lee, who rattled the post with his left foot. He roared and ran into Mourinho’s arms.
Mourinho has scored 14 goals in 33 games this season, good for fourth in the Primera Liga. He trails only Robert Lewandowski (FC Barcelona, 23), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, 18) and José Lu (Espanyol, 16). It’s close to his career-high of 17 goals in a single season, which he set in the 2018-19 Turkkiye Super Lig.
Lee, who started the game at wing-back, moved to midfield in the second half to assist on the final goal.
Football stats company Footmob gave Lee, who was on the field until the 38th minute, an 8.1 rating, the highest of any player on either side. Mourinho was rated 7.7. The Primera Liga’s official secretariat named Lee Man of the Match after the game.
When asked about his decision to play Lee at left fullback, Mallorca coach Javier Aguirre said, “It was my mistake. By playing him as a wing-back, I limited his role quite a bit,” he admitted.
With the win, Mallorca moved up to 11th place with 47 points. With two league games remaining, they are within two points of ninth-place Girona.