Valencia midfielder Kang-in Lee faces South Korean military service later in his career.

Marca says Lee has until 2029 to fulfil his service.

For elite sports professionals, it has a huge impact on their career and many South Korean sportspeople hope to do enough to be treated as an exception.

Taking the team to the last 16 of a World Cup or winning the Olympic Games or the Asian Games at international level all count as enough to earn an exception.

This service will hang over Lee for nine years, given that he is 19 years old and has some time to develop his career, though a year and a half out before the age of 28 could be harmful.