Gio Reyna’s club situation continues to bring plenty of frustration but it hasn’t been detrimental to his international career this time around.
Reyna was included in Mauricio Pochettino’s 23-player roster for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League Final Four. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder was named as one of six midfielders in the final roster, beating out players such as Brenden Aaronson and Gianluca Busio for the opportunity.
Reyna has battled back from a groin strain that he suffered last fall to earn minimal opportunities with the Black and Yellow. The 22-year-old has made 12 of his 20 season appearances in 2025, however has also been an unused substitute on three occasions this winter.
Despite his lack of consistent playing time in Dortmund, Reyna was praised by Pochettino on Tuesday ahead of what could be a confidence-boosting international window.
“I think when we decide to call players, [it] was a great opportunity to see him, to feel him,” Pochettino said to media about Reyna. “It’s true that maybe he’s not playing too much, but I think for us he’s a great player and we want to consider him.
“But the most important thing is that we need to feel and that is going to be the opportunity to have him 10 days, feeling and connecting and to creating a relationship that they can help him and can help us for the future.”
Reyna has totaled eight goals and five assists in 31 USMNT caps to date, being part of all three previous Nations League triumphs. Whether or not Reyna jumps into Pochettino’s starting lineup remains to be seen, but there is no denying his playmaking abilities, especially in the history of this CONCACAF competition.
bizzy,
“If Pochettino selected him, I guess there is something definitely there but it’s not that he is “JUST BETTER”
June 15 vs Mexico
Semi-finals of the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.
June 18 vs Canada
Final.
Just watch those games.
Watch Freddy Adu back in the day……means nothing if you cannot get on the field NOW. Reyna played the final five minutes in Dortmund’s 2-1 second leg victory over Lille, a game in which Canadian Jonathan David scored for Lille. Bench warming should not be a path or requirement to the national team.
Maybe he’ll be a benchwarmer on the National Team too, but Pochettino selected him so lets see……
Gio could barely get back on the field for Dortmund before those BJ games either.
I subscribe to the old Bill Parcells theory, treat each of your players fairly but treat each of them differently.
Let’s face it Gio is in a difficult situation. His value as a player is, I think,took a heavy hit by the issues surrounding the last World Cup. I don’t know who should be blamed for that, but his parents and GB bear a lot of the blame. As a result I think he is viewed by many as a bit of a spoiled brat who is uncoachable. I don’t think that is fair to Gio. And it is probably not the whole reason he is struggling for playing time at Dortmund. He is also competes with other very good players for a spot there.
He has unquestionably shown moments of brilliance for the USMNT, something others he is competing with for a spot on the USMNT arguably have not done despite opportunities to do so. Aaronson, Busio, De La Torre, Zendejas, etc..
This will give Poch a chance to see Gio in training and likely games to make his own judgement. His performance for the USMNT this month and vs Turkey and Switzerland later will have profound implications for hiss professional future. These are very high pressure few games for Gio.
Haha, I just cannot wrap my head around this. Like, how is Gio on the USMNT, ahead of other players having consistent minute for their teams……
For Giovanni Reyna resume this season, only:
3 Bundesliga starts
11 off the bench appearances (played in 14 games, only 321 minutes total)
6 games played in UEFA Champions League (220 minutes total)
2 goals this season
0 assists this season
2 shots on target and 3 shots total
…….and he gets ahead of the likes of Gianluca Busio, Alex Zendejas, Luca De La Torre, Aaronson, Paxton, Jack “Cannon” McGlynn, Djordje Mihailovic who are productive regulars for their respective teams.
…….I guess coming from the structure, assessment and evaluation of a coach like Pochettino, Reyna MIGHT REALLY SOMEHOW be a really good player who SOMEHOW is just undergoing some sort of unfortunate circumstance with club interest and general playing time. I don’t get it, but I guess that’s why I’m not coach for the USMNT lol
I am not big on Reyna. But, he is just better than everyone on your list.
“….he is just better than everyone on your list”
hmmm cmw…. based on what? Don’t you have to play, execute and perform at that level first (Especially after knowing he is not a WANTED starter in Bundesliga or EPL)?
If Pochettino selected him, I guess there is something definitely there but it’s not that he is “JUST BETTER”
bizzy,
“If Pochettino selected him, I guess there is something definitely there but it’s not that he is “JUST BETTER”
June 15 vs Mexico
Semi-finals of the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.
June 18 vs Canada
Final.
Just watch those games.
I hear what you’re saying, bizzy, it’s hard to tell one player that he needs to play more for his club or he won’t be considered by the national team, while at the same time taking Gio.
However, how much time would Busio, Zendejas, Mihailovic etc get if they were with Dortmund? Or, conversely, how would Gio look if he played for Venezia, Houston Dynamo, Colorado Rapids etc?
Come to think of it, a move to Venezia or some similarly situated team might be a good one for Gio’s career. Maybe this summer.
“However, how much time would Busio, Zendejas, Mihailovic etc get if they were with Dortmund? Or, conversely, how would Gio look if he played for Venezia, Houston Dynamo, Colorado Rapids etc?”
……Fair point
johnny99,
Anyone with a passing interest in the USMNT has long been aware of the Gio drama.
I think most people realize the level of his talent and accept the reason for why we haven’t seen as much of it as we’d all like. And most people are tired of waiting for him.
But this will be Pochettino’s first chance to meet the man, the myth , the legend and see for himself.
Based on his body of USMNT work, Gio has earned the opportunity to meet Pochettino . But, anything beyond that he’s going to have to earn it.
If Pochettino is saying Adams , an EPL regular and starter, is going to have to earn his USMNT spot, I see no reason why he won’t apply the same standard to Gio.
“…….and he gets ahead of the likes of Gianluca Busio, Alex Zendejas, Luca De La Torre, Aaronson, Paxton, Jack “Cannon” McGlynn, Djordje Mihailovic who are productive regulars for their respective teams.”
Gio is a miles better talent than any of those players and has performed better than them wearing a national team jersey. Club situation be damned.
Bearded,
A lot of people are making this out to be lot more than it is.
Gio’s club situation is pretty straight forward.
BVB is undergoing serious transition. He is either going to impress them enough to keep him for next season. Or more likely he’s going to get shipped off somewhere probably in Europe.
Gio showed, very early on, his ability against very high level opposition most of USMNT pretend challengers have yet to face.
His upward trend was wrecked most of all by injury. It’s all there for anyone who cares to look it up.
Most important of all is he is 22.
There are probably plenty of football execs and managers who couldn’t afford him when he was the next big BVB thing, who would be willing to take a chance on a discount , garage sale, Gio. As long as he is not total garbage with BVB the rest of the season or is cut or thrown out of the USMNT NL camp, his club career should be okay.
Gio’s most direct USMNT competition for the offensive difference maker is Luna, Malik ( if and when he gets healthy and fit) and maybe Luciano Acosta ( assuming his migra status gets sorted out in time). I see Duane Holmes is now with Houston and maybe soon we’ll hear that Julian Green has moved to MLS so there are those guys to consider.
So far Pochettino, for a professional manager (who are professional obfuscators) has been pretty true to his word. He just said that Tyler Adams will have to earn his spot back. So, I expect the same will be true for Gio.
Pochettino owed it to himself, no one else, to get a good look at Gio ASAP and the NL is his best opportunity.
If he can fool Pochettino and get into the NL squad then , most likely, his USMNT future will be very bright.
Gio has apparently changed his agent again. He has joined with ROOF who represent big names like Kai Havertz and Karim Adeyemi as well as the Tillman brothers and Brighton manager Fabian Hurtzler. I do wonder if Gestifute not being able to get the proposed deal with Milan done but instead pushing their other client Joao Felix to AC Milan played a factor. Or Gio’s entourage continue to be “difficult” and no one wants to work with them. Could be either I guess.
“Or Gio’s entourage continue to be “difficult” and no one wants to work with them.”
What is this speculation based on?
Google “Reyna World Cup drama”
@gerrit
I’m aware of the World Cup drama.
Gio’s career needs all the help it can get.
Felix’s career hasn’t been going great either so maybe they both could benefit from the change.
Rico: 3 agents in 15 months, it’s either the agents or the clients. Or maybe both.
Yup, there is only one variable in that whole equation that’s a common factor……..
JR,
It’s also fair to say that Dortmund management/ownership has been under-performing recently.
The days of challenging for the title while constantly discovering and selling the likes of Dembele, Pulisic, Sancho, Haaland and Bellingham, seemingly right in a row seem to be over.
They still have tons of talent but it seems to be a notch below the golden years. Hard to beat Haaland and Bellingham.
Gio’s personal situation seems to be a combination of bad luck and bad timing coupled with agents who could have been a lot more savvy.
If you can call it good news , he’s either on his way out of Dortmund or Dortmund won’t have anyone in his way next season. Sabitzer and Brandt both look on their way out it seems.
Guess I was wondering, did the agent drop Gio or did Gio drop his agent?
Rico: all I saw reported was Gio “signed” with a new agency. I think Mendes certainly didn’t live up to expectations of the Reyna’s with the Forest move and then not getting the Milan move this window. I’m really not sure how much was his fault and how much if any unreasonable expectations were from Gio’s people.
bizzy
“Yup, there is only one variable in that whole equation that’s a common factor…….”
If you mean Gio is the one variable, that’s not accurate. You’re ignoring BVB’s role in this.
The “one variable…that’s a common factor” is the relationship between Gio and BVB.
Gio is not and has not been in total control of where he plays whether that is at BVB or somewhere else. As for the failed NF loan, so what? To put that in context, Harry Kane and Kyle Walker were both loaned out four times each before they became starters for Spurs.
It hasn’t been perfect but y’all forget the biggest thing. Gio is only 22 and no one credible doubts his talent.
“Especially after knowing he is not a WANTED starter in Bundesliga or EPL)?”
You don’t know that.
You don’t know what price BVB have set on Gio. Whatever it is, the price seems to have driven off people, for now. But that will change soon.
Gio used to have much greater value and BVB have, for some reason, kept hanging on to him, almost as if they are hoping he comes out of it and gets his value closer to what it was before now. But, unfortunately for both sides, Gio has been unable to make the most of the meager time BVB have given him.
However, I don’t doubt that there are a number of European teams ( if Gio wants to stay there) that think that they could be the ones to turn the Gio Reyna story into the new Kevin de Bruyne story.
It almost always comes down to timing and money.
Just needs different scenery being at a different Bundesliga team or another league in Europe next year.