What’s going wrong for Gio Reyna at Borussia Dortmund?

In just 39 minutes, Gio Reyna demonstrated the player he could still become for the US men’s national team, scoring two goals in a 4-0 friendly demolition of Ghana. Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic also found the back of the net for a team often hailed as a golden generation, but it was Reyna’s performance that provided the most tantalising of visions.

The reminder of Reyna’s talent was timely. The 20-year-old has barely featured for Borussia Dortmund this season, playing just 111 minutes across all competitions. Once seen as the Bundesliga club’s next superstar-in-waiting after the likes of Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho, Reyna’s development has dramatically stalled.

His USMNT career has also been called into question after finding himself in the middle of a family feud that threatened to bring down US Soccer. Investigators ultimately decided Gregg Berhalter could return to his role as USMNT head coach after an ugly soap opera involving Reyna’s parents, but it wasn’t certain the midfielder would play for his country again under the current management. “I think it will take time,” said Berhalter when asked how quickly his relationship with Reyna could be repaired.

October’s call-up did a lot to clear the air, to such an extent that the USMNT could now be the thing that points Reyna in the right direction again. Berhalter has previously used the national team environment to harbour young players – see Pulisic, Sergino Dest, Weston McKennie and others – experiencing the rough waters of club soccer. Reyna needs this because Borussia Dortmund aren’t doing a lot to help him.

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There is seemingly no plan for Reyna at the Westfalenstadion. Bellingham’s summer departure to Real Madrid raised hope that the American could force his way into Dortmund’s lineup this season, but he finds himself stuck behind Julian Brandt and Marco Reus in the attacking midfield pecking order.

Reyna started his first Bundesliga match of the season against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday, but was deployed on the left side of the Dortmund attack where he was unable to have any meaningful influence. So unremarkable was the 20-year-old, he was hooked at half-time with Dortmund two goals down.

“If it was my ideal scenario or game, it would probably be with two number sixes and I’d be kind of a free-roaming number 10,” Reyna said to Tim Ream on his USMNT teammate’s podcast recently. “I think that’s where I’d find the space to create and score goals and get assists. So that’s kind of where I can be successful.”

Publicly, Edin Terzic agrees, assessing Reyna as “most comfortable in the centre.” So far this season, though, he has yet to play in this position for Borussia Dortmund. Reyna’s 111 minutes have come either on one side of the attacking unit or as a member of the midfield three, where he is restricted by the defensive responsibilities of the role.

Against Germany last month, Berhalter similarly used Reyna as part of a central trio, but still afforded him freedom to drift between the lines. In the next friendly against Ghana, Reyna was untethered from all structural duties as a free-roaming number 10 supported by two number sixes – just as the player himself likes it. He performed the same role in the Concacaf Nations League final against Canada, when he contributed two assists in a 2-0 win.

Berhalter won’t be able to do this against every opponent, but Reyna could give the USMNT greater guile and creativity when tasked with breaking down a low defensive block. The 2022 World Cup gave the US a platform to build on and Reyna is the sort of player who could help them take the next step as a team before the 2026 World Cup on home soil.

By 2026, Reyna’s club situation could be very different. Reports over the summer suggested Dortmund were willing to let the midfielder leave, either on a loan or permanent deal. Reyna, however, remains determined to succeed at his current club. “There is no moving up from Dortmund,” he said amid speculation about his future. “It’s a top, top club so I’m happy here and could play here forever.”

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It’s worth remembering Reyna played a small, but important, part in Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga title challenge last season, scoring winning goals in matches against Augsburg and Mainz. Those goals helped Dortmund push Bayern Munich all the way until the final day. As an impact sub, Reyna certainly made an impact – and Dortmund need him to make an impact in Der Klassiker this weekend.

It’s sometimes easy to forget Reyna is still only 20. He made his Bundesliga debut in January 2020, becoming the youngest American to ever play in the German top flight and was also a full international before his 18th birthday. Reyna still has time to grow at his own pace and has even matured since the World Cup in Qatar when his own teammates confronted him about his attitude on the training field. They’ve surely been happier about his recent USMNT performances.