Gio Reyna “can be anything he wants to be”, according to former USA international Brad Friedel, who felt that the Borussia Dortmund playmaker would not have the look to match Real Madrid or a candidate. Premier League heavyweights should a future transfer materialize.
Currently, the highly rated 18-year-old is focusing a lot on the present and will return from a recent injury. He will want to return to fitness in the second half of Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga season and the US national team’s push to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
However, it is expected that a point will come when his next career move will be taken, with Reyna’s clear potential already being noticed by top teams across Europe.
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In an interview with GOAL, former USA goalkeeper Friedel said that the biggest question for Reyna is to avoid injury: “He also needs to stay healthy. He had some problems. But he did a great job. Basically, from the very first moment he passed [to Germany] he did well and went from strength to strength. ”
Will Reyna be able to one day follow in her father’s footsteps and play in England? Friedel thinks so: “He can play in the Premier League. When you go to the Premier League, there’s a learning curve because of the physicality of it. Will he be able to get used to it, adapt and grow? Sure.
“He can coordinate and do the defensive work, do the pressure, if that’s what the system calls for. He has the tools to be all of those things.
Could Gio Reyna end up at Real Madrid?
Friedel envisions the top clubs in the world as the next destination of the young American star.
“He’s used to a big club, so it won’t be a problem if he goes,” said Friedel, “I imagine that if he leaves Dortmund, he’s going to a very big club. other big. That will just seem normal to him and won’t discourage him.”
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Along with his inevitable links to ambitious Premier League sides, Reyna has also attracted the interest of La Liga giants Real Madrid.
It has been suggested that he could be targeted by the Blancos as a long-term successor to Luka Modric, the player Friedel played for at Tottenham.
“They are different,” he said of that large payout. Gio will need to play more games to control the tempo like Luka Modric.
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“They are different players. Luka is one of those special midfielders who can play number 6, number 8 or number 10. He can control the whole game with his pass – speed up, slow down and not even like him. he is running. . It was not taught, not coached, it was just in his footballing brain.
“There are many more games that Gio will need to play to be there, but can he play at one of the big clubs? Could he play at Real Madrid one day? It’s correct. I think he has that quality.”
