As if in a trance: Reggiani gets everyone excited | OneFootball

His beaming smile in front of the surging Yellow Wall spoke volumes. Reggiani had glee in his eyes and obvious pride as he savoured the fans’ ovation after the final whistle, surrounded by his teammates. The incredible scenario he’d imagined before kick-off – scoring a goal in his packed home stadium – had suddenly become reality. “For it to turn out like this is simply indescribable. I’m absolutely delighted. Everything is happening so fast at the moment: the debut, the Champions League, and now the first goal,” enthused the 18-year-old defender, who was completely carried away as he captured the magical moment in a selfie.

The goal in the 59th minute provided a real emotional rollercoaster for BVB. As the ball dipped into the far corner following his header, Reggiani clasped his hands above his head in near disbelief, spun round with his arms wide out and, seconds later, disappeared into a cluster of his teammates in front of the Dortmund substitutes’ bench. “His emotions were wonderful. He didn’t know what to do with himself,” commented manager Niko Kovac. BVB captain Nico Schlotterbeck was equally captivated: “I’ve rarely seen so much joy.”

A young player’s entry into professional football could scarcely have been more like a fairy tale. Just a few weeks ago, Reggiani could only have dreamed of such an afternoon. Away from the public spotlight, he was a reliable defender in the U19s, repeatedly hinting at his potential for greater things. Standing at an imposing 1.94 metres tall, with a relentless tackling style and mental resilience, he earned himself the internal nickname of ‘Gladiator’.

The talented youngster caught the eye early on. When BVB successfully secured Reggiani’s signing from the youth ranks of Italian top-flight side US Sassuolo two years ago, the club prevailed over notable international competition, which demonstrates the club's good judgement. Reggiani won the German championship with the U17s and later took on responsibility as captain of the U19s. After months out with a knee injury, he fought his way back with great determination.

The fact that head coach Niko Kovac’s squad was stretched by the absences of Emre Can, Niklas Süle and Filippo Mane opened the door to the first team. He came on as a substitute in the closing stages of the 2-1 win in Wolfsburg on 7 February. Less than two weeks later, he made his debut on an even bigger stage and was even in the starting line-up for the 2-0 Champions League win against Atalanta.

As his responsibilities grew, so did media interest: “What sets ‘Gladiator’ Reggiani apart and makes him a serious contender,” ran the headline in the magazine Kicker following his second competitive match for the first team, quoting Dortmund’s U19 coach Felix Hirschnagl: “Reggiani is putting in outstanding performances week in, week out. After a difficult start due to a knee injury, he has now become an absolute leader. He has earned his professional debut thanks to his attitude and hard work.”

The match against Augsburg finally thrust the Italian U19 international from Modena into the spotlight. For centre-back Waldemar Anton, it wasn’t just the goal that was decisive: “As a defender, your first priority is to make sure nothing goes wrong at the back. He did that well and didn't make any errors today,” praised the veteran. “The goal was the icing on the cake.” Anton immediately offered the euphoric youngster some pragmatic advice: “At this age, it’s about taking it one game at a time, consistently delivering performances and earning your place like that.”