New Atletico Madrid midfielder Lee Kang-in said the club's ambition should be "to win everything" ahead of Wednesday's LaLiga opener against Malaga.

Atleti become the first of Spanish football's 'big three' to get their league campaign under way when last season's Segunda Division play-off winners visit the Metropolitano.

Diego Simeone's side finished a disappointing fourth in the table last term, which led to suggestions their iconic Argentine head coach could walk away from a role he took in 2009.

But Simeone opted to stay, and Lee's €40m move from Paris Saint-Germain has headlined their ambitious summer transfer business, with Cristian Romero, Morten Hjulmand and Alejandro Grimaldo their other big-name signings.

Lee helped PSG win back-to-back editions of the Champions League in the last two seasons, winning 12 trophies in total with the French giants, so he knows what it takes to lift silverware.

At his official unveiling on Monday, the South Korea international – who previously played for Valencia and Mallorca – said: "I'm very happy to join this great club. 

"I come with a lot of desire to help the club win titles. My ambition is to win everything.

"I lived in Spain since I was a child. and I always knew what a great club this was. Since I was told about Atletico's interest, I wanted to join to win titles. 

"Since I left Spain, I often thought I had to come back to play here again. It was the place where I grew up and I really wanted to come back.

"I've got a lot of ambition. We are going to work hard to be able to give a lot of joy to all Atletico fans."

Overall, Lee scored 16 goals and provided 16 assists in 124 appearances during his time with PSG, though his game time was limited due to their star-studded attacking options, with Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ahead of him in the pecking order.

He has inherited the number seven shirt worn by Atleti great Antoine Griezmann, who departed for Orlando City this summer as the club's all-time leading scorer (212 goals).

"As we all know, the number seven at Atleti is a special number that has been worn by many legends," Lee said.

"I try not to think about it, I think about the day to day so I can help the team. That's what I'll do until the last day I wear this shirt."

Malaga are back in the big time for the first time since 2017-18, though they have been quiet in the transfer market, only spending €300k to bring in Juan Cruz, Fernando Calero and Jose Salinas. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Atletico Madrid – Jan Oblak

Oblak could make his 400th LaLiga appearance here. He would become the 11th goalkeeper to reach this milestone in the competition's history, but the first foreign goalkeeper to do so.

Malaga – Chupe 

Chupe scored 25 goals from an expected goals (xG) total of 19.4 in the Segunda Division last season (+5.6).

Only Racing de Santander's Asier Villalibre (+6.6 – 16 goals and 9.4 xG) had a bigger positive differential between his goals scored and expected goals in the competition that season.

MATCH PREDICTION – ATLETICO MADRID WIN

Atletico Madrid have won their last five LaLiga matches against Malaga, keeping four clean sheets in the process; this is their best winning streak against them in the competition.

Simeone's side did start last season with a defeat, going down 2-1 to Espanyol, but that is the only matchday one defeat they have suffered in his 14 full seasons in charge. 

The Rojiblancos have not lost their opening league game in two consecutive years since 1999.

Atleti have lost six of their last 10 LaLiga matches (W4), suffering as many defeats as they did in their previous 34 games in the competition (W21 D7 L6) combined.

But this is a new season, and against newly promoted opponents, Wednesday's hosts should have far too much quality – Malaga have started six of their previous eight LaLiga seasons with a defeat (W2).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Atletico Madrid – 69%

Malaga – 12.3%

Draw – 18.7%