Giovanni Reyna broke into the Borussia Dortmund first team at the start of 2020 and is now excited for the next chapter of his career.
Reyna began the season with Dortmund’s Under-19 team and excelled in his time there before getting the call-up to Lucien Favre’s senior squad. The playmaking midfielder made 17 combined appearances this season, scoring once in German Cup play and assisting once against Paris Saint-Germain in UEFA Champions League action.
Comparisons have been made between Reyna and former Dortmund star Christian Pulisic, whom is now entertaining in the English Premier League with Chelsea. Reyna’s first senior call up to the USMNT was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the chance to work with Pulisic provides an exciting opportunity.
“I think the idea of us [Pulisic and Reyna] playing together is really exciting which, you know, I think people should start looking at that more than comparing us,” Reyna said in an interview with ESPN.
“If we get our group together and me and Christian playing together, I think can be very exciting for the next, who knows, 10 years or 15 years.”
Reyna was expected to be called up by Gregg Berhalter earlier in March for a pair of European friendlies before the pandemic halted all international action. Not only has Reyna impressed with Dortmund, but he’s also risen through the ranks of U.S. Soccer.
He’s totaled 32 combined appearances between the U.S. U-15, U-16, and U-17 teams to date with 15 goals to his name. The playmaker is also eligible to represent Argentina, England, and Portugal, but confirmed his commitment to the United States earlier this year, a decision which came easy for Reyna.
“U.S.A is my home country, I lived here most of my life but yeah, it was always U.S.A., it was never really a discussion,” Reyna said. “U.S.A. is my home country, I’m an American kid so, yeah, hopefully, [I] can go into a U.S. camp soon. I’m really excited to meet all those guys.”
Reyna is currently in preseason camp with Dortmund, whom are seeking a first Bundesliga title since 2012. The club will also return to the UEFA Champions League after being eliminated in the Round of 16 of this year’s edition by current finalists PSG.
His first chance to represent the USMNT could come as early as October in the first action for Gregg Berhalter’s team since January.
4-2-3-1-formation
Morris
CP Gooch
Reyna
Morales
Adams
Robinson Cannon
Brooks, Long
Hamid
Subs- MF- McKennie, FW- Weah, LB- Hamalainen, GK- Guzan, RB- Moore, CF/9- Novakovich, MF- Lleget, CB- Alvarado, RW- Ty. Boyd, MF- Yueill, CB- Opara, GK- Horvath
Reyna & Pulisic are going to be a very dangerous attacking duo. My preference (right now) is to have Pulisic @ LW and Reyna @ RW to force to opposition to defend honestly and not be able to scheme & tilt their defense to Pulisic’s side of the field.
I’m interested to finally see what our young A-Team will look/play like….Pulisic, Reyna, Adams, McKennie, & Dest are the the Core with the likes of A. Robinson, Sargent, & Weah hot on their heals to stake claims for starting roles.
There may be some growing pains and take a few games for these guys to build the needed chemistry to really shine, but we should still be capable of beating anyone in CONCACAF not named Mexico or Costa Rica while the chemistry is developed.
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We’re still missing a go-to attack minded CM who can consistently pick that killer final pass, and maybe that’s where Reyna eventually plays (If Ledezma doesn’t progress or if Weah/Uli/Mendez start breaking out), but for the time being Aaronson or Holmes can hopefully keep us moving in the right direction.
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CB is still up in the air. with only Brooks as high level starter…Miazga, CCV, EPB, Richards, M. Robinson….all trying to challenge to pair with and back-up Brooks. I personally don’t care for Long and believe he should be behind the younger generation.
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Still need help & depth at some key positions (Striker, CDM, GK) but the starting XI should be fun to watch as long as Gregg starts adapting his system to the strengths of our player pool and moves away from some of the players that appear to be “His Guys”….Roldan, Bradley, etc.
He seems to be more of an attacker than his father, but if he is only as good as his father was (maybe the best playmaker in US history), he will be a great addition to the national team.Can’t wait until we have Pulisic, Reyna, McKennie, Adams, and Weah all out there together.
Nations League in March, two guaranteed quality opponents, play the kids Reyna, Weah, Llanez, Richards because who cares if you win NL. Then likely to open qualifying at Trinidad/El Salvador then home vs Canada/Haiti, at Honduras, home Jamaica. Can’t take any of those for granted but all matches we’d be favored in with exception maybe of at Honduras. Bring your first 11 then give some young guys a chance.
By my count he had 1G 2A for the first team in about 400 minutes of sub appearances. I am a big fan of goals/assists/points per 90 type stats as they hint at “possibilities.” To me he should be on the Pulisic Track — who was getting sub minutes in qualifiers at 17. And to be clear with the foot-draggers, his first cap was a world cup qualifier. You know what I think is foolish risk-reward? Running out the same people who couldn’t beat Mexico or Canada.
No one is saying don’t play him literally no one. He would have played and likely started in March. 3G and Claudio are very good friends he’s literally known Gio since he was a baby. He’s exactly on the Pulisic track if not for the largest pandemic since 1918 he’d have multiple caps.