Vitor Reis reveals unlikely ‘big brother’ at Manchester City communicating with ‘gestures’ | OneFootball

Manchester City’s January defensive recruits have become ‘brothers’ since being brought together at the Etihad Stadium but still struggle to communicate.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis became the then-Premier League champions’ first two signings of a busy January transfer window at the midway stage of the ongoing season, as club officials looked to get Pep Guardiola’s season back on track.

With their pursuit of a fifth successive English top-flight crown over by that stage, and the club’s UEFA Champions League hopes not looking too promising, ensuring qualification for Europe’s premier competition became the priority and thus came a recruitment drive.

Defensive ranks emerged as the priority as Guardiola’s existing options in defence struggled to remain fit at a crucial point in the campaign, while versatile options would be targeted by Txiki Begiristain and Hugo Viana.

In the case of Abdukodir Khusanov, the Uzbek international was thrust into action in a number of huge encounters, perhaps to his own surprise given the poor form of others and severe fitness issues ravaging through the Etihad roster.

And speaking as part of a new feature for Manchester City’s official club website, fellow January arrival Vitor Reis has revealed the former RC Lens star to be his ‘big brother’ within the Etihad Stadium since arriving at the club earlier this year.

“[Abdukodir] Khusanov arrived at the same time as me, we were both new at Manchester City, weren’t as close to everyone,” the Brazilian youth international revealed.

“So we’d go for coffee together, do everything together,” he continued. “There’s the language barrier too, right? Neither him nor I speak English fluently.

“We had to do a lot of gestures. Khusa was like a big brother. As soon as I got here, we became good friends.”

Since a bright start for both defenders upon their arrival at the Etihad Stadium, a return to fitness for other rearguard options and the emergence of Nico O’Reilly as a left-sided full-back has severely restricted their opportunities.

The aforementioned Manchester City Academy graduate has become the go-to name for left-back since an FA Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth, allowing for Josko Gvardiol to stand alongside Ruben Dias at the heart of defence.

Reis and Khusanov continue to impress in training behind the scenes and there is no doubt within the club that they have two players for the future, while the former is being eyed for a role in midfield depending on how he performs at senior Academy level in such a task.