Gio Reyna’s lack of playing time at Borussia Dortmund is certainly a worry for U.S. men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter, but with Reyna now seeking a new chapter this January, Berhalter has shown his support for the talented playmaker’s search.
Berhalter took to the podium on Friday ahead of the USMNT’s opening match of the 2024 schedule, a home friendly vs. Slovenia in San Antonio. Despite not having many of his European players for January’s opening match, Berhalter has kept a close eye on his group heading into competitive matches later this March and June-July.
Reyna, who remains a Borussia Dortmund player at this time, has been reduced to only 320 minutes of playing time for the Black and Yellow this campaign. The 21-year-old recently joined Polaris Sports, a marketing agency founded and run by former super agent, Jorge Mendes.
Reyna’s switch from Wasserman to Polaris will hopefully earn the attacking midfielder a new opportunity in the coming weeks, which would not only be beneficial for the player, but also for the USMNT. There has been reported interest from England, France, Spain, and elsewhere for Reyna’s signature and Berhalter admitted his eagerness to see what happens next for him this season.
“I think that any professional who’s competitive wants to be on the field,” Berhalter said Friday. “And this is a case where Gio hasn’t been getting the game time that he wants and is potentially looking for alternate options. That’s completely understandable. You’ve seen in our player pool throughout these years that that’s a pretty common reaction. We support him in his quest to get on the field regularly and we’re looking forward to the outcome of that.”
Reyna has earned 24 caps to date with the USMNT, scoring seven goals and adding three assists. He last featured in the Americans’ two-legged CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals matchup with Trinidad & Tobago, scoring once in the 3-0 first leg victory before playing just 42 minutes in a 2-1 second leg defeat.
The two-time Nations League winner will certainly be pushing for involvement in the USMNT’s semifinal clash with Jamaica this March in Arlington, Texas.
So Reyna is suppose to have next level talent, right? Well, if that is true…you have to ask why can’t he break through at a club like Dortmund. After injuries he returned to Dortmund the end of last season and was the super sub providing late goals and thereby helping BVB come within a whisker of winning the Bundesliga. You’d think his role would necessarily increased after that. He seemed to be the next of the young players to rise up and force the A level teams to take notice a la Pulisic, Sancho, Haaland and Bellingham. So something has to give…what is it? It has to be that the coach doesn’t rate him…why? Is he not that good? Or is there something else going on? “Something else” would be poor training habits or a personality clash with the coach (BVB director saying Reyna needs to “step on the gas” What does that even mean? Lots can be read into that). With any of these scenarios his options for a transfers or loan become limited to teams that either need a talent that has been possibly overrated (not being able to break through even as a regular sub) or a player who has bought that hype and doesn’t put in the work or has an attitude problem with coaches. From a shopping club perspective signing Reyna is chancey business. Reyna’s situation reminds me of Konrad de la Fuente and seeing his fall to La Liga 2. There were rumors of Reyna being loaned to Gladbach last summer. I’d rather see him go to a midtable team fighting for Europa or Conference position where his supposed talent is superior to those around him to take talent out of the equation. If he can then show his dedication to training and develop a good working relationship with the training staff then his next move would be cleared for a move up the table to a team competing for or in Champions League.
MOTO
“So something has to give…what is it? It has to be that the coach doesn’t rate him…why? Is he not that good? Or is there something else going on? ”
You need look no further than Pulisic or Weston. Look at how highly rated they now seem to be.
And tell me where they were just about a year ago?
How close were they to being tossed on the same garbage heap where we now have Gio?
Being a regular in a top 5 league club is really, really hard. I’ve seen enough of Gio to know his talent is real. He has had the bad luck of badly timed injuries and of being at a club full of YOUNG exceptional talent in the areas where he might stand out.
Look at Weston.
He succeeded at Juve because of his relentless commitment but also because
Juve did not have anyone who comes close to being able to do what Weston can do when he is committed. If they did he would have been gone long ago or maybe they would not have even brought him in the first place.
I also think Paxten Aaronson should consider going on loan somewhere. Not doing him any good just sitting on the bench game in and game out at Frankfurt
Hope the move to Real Sociedad happens – a team that plays technical and attractive football. It’ll be great to see him in that midfield alongside the likes of Kubo and Oyarzabal.
I wouldn’t mind seeing he and LDLT linked up at Celta Vigo! Their attack/midfield needs a boost and he could certainly help