‘Reyna could play at Real Madrid’ – Dortmund star tipped for the top
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 8 Jan 2022 03:20 CST
- 3 min read
Borussia Dortmund ace Gio Reyna has been tipped to go all the way to the top of the game, with former USA international goalkeeper Brad Friedel suggesting that the midfielder could one day turn out for Real Madrid.
While there is much speculation over the future of Dortmund prodigy Erling Haaland and rising star Jude Bellingham, Reyna is another young member of the Bundesliga side’s squad who has been showing promise.
Only 19 years old, he has been troubled by physical issues this season that have restricted him to just three Bundesliga outings, but he made sure to make his mark in those encounters by scoring a couple of goals.
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Reyna has been tipped as a long-term successor to Luka Modric, and while Friedel believes that comparison is not necessarily accurate, he certainly sees the Dortmund youngster winding up at the Bernabeu.
“They are different players. Luka is one of the special midfielders that can play six, eight or 10. He can control a whole game with his passing – speed it up, slow it down and it doesn’t even look like he’s running. That is something not taught, not coached, it’s just in his footballing brain,” Friedel told Betway US.
“There are many more games that Gio will need to play in order to be there, but could he play at one of the big clubs? Could he play at Real Madrid one day? Yes. I think he has that quality.”
Reyna in the Premier League?
While Friedel had a word of warning over Reyna’s physical condition, he also sees him playing at the top level in England.
“He can be whatever he wants to be. He needs to stay fit also. He has had some issues,” he noted. “But he has done remarkably well. Basically from the first moment that he went over he has done well and gone from strength to strength. “He could play in the Premier League.
“When you come over to the Premier League, there is a learning curve because of the physicality of it. Could he get used to it, adapt and thrive? Absolutely.
I imagine that if he were to ever leave Dortmund, he would go to another very big club
- Brad Friedel“He can graft and do the defensive work, do the pressing, if that is what the system of play calls for. He has the tools to be all of that.
“Also, being at Dortmund, that is one of the big boys in Germany. He is used to a big club, so that won’t be an issue if he were to go.
“I imagine that if he were to ever leave Dortmund, he would go to another very big club. That will just seem normal to him and won’t be daunting.”
Reyna has been back in partial training with Dortmund since December and will hope to feature imminently for BVB.
