Giovanni Reyna faces tricky return to BVB after abrupt exit | OneFootball

In the last game of the year, Borussia Dortmund hosts their namesake Borussia Mönchengladbach today at Signal Iduna Park. Among the guests from the Lower Rhine: Giovanni Reyna, who had been active with BVB for six years until the summer. This return carries a special note, as explained by Sportschau.

Reyna's departure from BVB, for whom he scored 15 goals in 106 Bundesliga appearances, was not one whose circumstances could be described as market-standard. At BVB, they decided to pass on Reyna's jersey number to newcomer Jobe Bellingham, even before Reyna had left the club. This was a very clear hint to the American, according to Sportschau, that they were no longer counting on him.

Giovanni Reyna eventually found a new employer in Borussia Mönchengladbach, who were willing to pay a transfer fee of seven million euros. The fact that he ultimately did not establish himself at BVB is attributed to a trait of his that also makes this transfer a certain risk for Borussia Mönchengladbach: Reyna is very injury-prone.

Photo: IMAGO

Bellingham received Reyna's jersey number before his departure

The other obstacle that may have prevented him from developing into an established regular in the Bundesliga could, however, also be a plus. Giovanni Reyna, who was considered a "mega talent" early on, does not have a fixed position on the field where he is always deployed.

Rather, he is "somewhere between the ten, the eight, and the half-wing positions." Many coaches find such a player very convenient in the squad, as it increases the variability of the game without necessarily having to make substitutions. During his time at Borussia Dortmund, however, this circumstance did not work to Reyna's advantage.

In Mönchengladbach, he was initially deployed immediately – but then promptly injured himself again. After a four-week break, the son of US national player and former Wolfsburg and Leverkusen player Claudio Reyna returned stronger and has since "steadily improved." Additionally, Reyna seems to have realized that he has reached a crucial point in his career. He can no longer rely solely on his talent; more determination is required, which Reyna is currently showing.

Whether he will be in the starting lineup today upon his return to Borussia Dortmund is still uncertain, as direct competitor Florian Neuhaus is ready to play again. However, Reyna will be highly motivated, concludes Sportschau, not only because of the jersey number issue.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.