Dropping from 42 to seven million euros in market worth – that would actually solely be the Dortmund inventory after lacking out on the championship in 2023, proper? Virtually appropriate. The topic right here is Gio Reyna, who was lengthy thought of one in every of Europe’s high skills and, this week, transferred to Borussia Mönchengladbach for a mere three million euros.
The strains already trace at it: Lately, issues have gone steeply downhill for the 22-year-old. After quite a few accidents and a failed mortgage to Nottingham Forest, there was merely no future left for Reyna at BVB. Now, carrying the Foals’ jersey, all the pieces is meant to get higher. However is that actually practical?
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Arduous to say. That he can play soccer is past query. It’s no coincidence that Borussia Dortmund signed the American when he was simply 16 for his or her U19 group. Reyna is the traditional artistic participant – robust in one-on-ones, with exact passing, and above all, monumental flexibility. Whether or not on both wing or within the heart – Reyna can fill a number of positions in assault. Nevertheless, in Dortmund, he was solely given restricted alternatives to take action.
Final season alone, the 22-year-old made simply 16 Bundesliga appearances for the Black and Yellows. It will get worse. He began solely three matches. Coming off the bench, Reyna typically struggled. Maybe additionally unsettled by the sensation that, at a giant membership, you all the time must ship to keep away from instantly being sidelined once more.
Issues look a bit completely different in Gladbach. “Consider me, that is actually a switch the place we are saying: Usually, Gladbach wouldn’t stand an opportunity on this scenario,” explains BMG boss Roland Virkus shortly after the Reyna deal. What he means: For the Foals, Reyna is absolutely the marquee signing, anticipated to steer the midfield and, for now, can look ahead to loads of taking part in time from the beginning.
Hmm, however that by some means already feels like stress and excessive expectations. Perhaps Reyna ought to have gone for the Mario Götze transfer as an alternative.
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The previous Dortmund participant additionally selected to maneuver to the Eredivisie in 2020. Removed from Germany and the media highlight, Götze rediscovered his outdated type at Eindhoven. In the summertime of 2022, he returned to the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt. In Hesse, the 33-year-old performed a key position, particularly in his first two seasons, proving that typically a step again can really be a step ahead.
Reyna did have provides from overseas. Based on ‘kicker’, he was lengthy linked with Serie A strugglers Parma Calcio and MLS membership Los Angeles FC. However, Reyna determined to strive his luck within the Bundesliga as soon as once more. Not like Götze, the attacking star thankfully has one decisive benefit: his age.
Despite the fact that you in all probability really feel such as you’ve been seeing Reyna within the Bundesliga context for ten years – the man is barely 22. So if issues don’t work out at Gladbach, he theoretically nonetheless has sufficient time to make a contemporary begin exterior the highest 5 leagues. However for now, the Bundesliga appears to be one thing like his final probability.
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If it doesn’t work out with the Foals, not even the most effective agent on this planet will seemingly be capable to place him at one other Bundesliga membership.
To all Gladbach followers: Sorry for the doom and gloom. Perhaps Reyna will take off at Gladbach like a rocket. Typically, gifted artistic gamers simply want an excellent dose of belief to ship their finest efficiency. Not like at BVB, he might get that in abundance at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
As a disguised striker, he might then type THE new Bundesliga dream duo with Tim Kleindienst, who will hopefully be match once more quickly. That’s in all probability how Gerardo Seoane is imagining the long run proper now. However perhaps the Gladbach coach can also be serious about a brand new dream trio. Reyna might, for instance, play as a quantity ten alongside Shūto Machino, who joined from Kiel initially of the summer season switch window, and even take up a wing place.
To reply our preliminary query: Between Reyna and Gladbach, a summer season fling might quickly flip into an actual love story – perhaps even in the present day in Stuttgart. That’s when Gladbach faces VfB at 3:30 p.m.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.
📸 Pool – 2021 Getty Photos