BVB fans clamour to see more of wonderkid Gio Reyna
The burning question on the lips of BVB fans as Lucien Favre’s side prepare to take on Udinese in a pre-season friendly match? Simple: will we see more of USA starlet Gio Reyna? The supporters are, of course, right to be quizzical. Because, aged just 16, the talent of this boy wonder was there for all to see as Borussia Dortmund beat Liverpool 3-2 as part of their summer tour of America.
So, will Favre buck to the demands of the supporters and give the wonderkid more game time when the Germans take on the Italians at the Cashpoint Arena, Altach, Austria on Saturday (July 27)? Well, if you look at the impact the attacking midfielder made as a sub in the win over Seattle Sounders, when he almost scored with a header, you would tend to think so, certainly.
And given that Favre chose to hand him a starting line-up berth for the game against Jurgen Klopp’s side — the Champions of Europe let us not forget — the case for followers seeing more of young Reyna (who is the son of former USA aces Claudio Reyna and Danielle Egan Reyna) is strengthened massively. Add to that the fact that the emerging talent set up a goal for Paco Alcacer in that win, and, well — it’s nailed on we’ll see him against the Italians, surely?
Reyna has shot to fame for BVB in such a short passage of time since signing for the Bundesliga runners-up recently from New York City (NYCFC). He was destined to come to Europe to help him develop his game. When in the Big Apple, he won many plaudits for his dazzling displays and the great and the good were quick to praise him for his ability.
France World Cup winner and former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira, Reyna’s former youth coach at NYCFC, said of him:
“For a kid, he has this physical presence and his game understanding is really good. He can score goals, he understands the demands of the game tactically. He’s a really smart kid and he’s shown some really good stuff.”
Indeed, following the victories in the US of A, BVB keeper Roman Burki was full of praise for the youngster. He said:
“He’s already very well developed, In terms of his physique. You can’t tell that he’s only 16. He’s a very robust player and he really does know what’s what.”
After the Udinese game, BVB are in action once more on Tuesday (July 30) when they tale on FC Gallen in another friendly match and then they gear up for the chance to get one over on old rivals Bayern Munich when they take them on in the DFL Supercup final on August 3.
