Getty/GOALThe formerly promising midfielder of USMNT is almost 22, and his progress has been stunted due to lack of playing time.
You’ve seen this scenario before if you’re a fan of Gio Reyna.
Reyna's season started as most of his other games have started over recent years: on the bench. Borussia Dortmund's campaign began last weekend with a lopsided DFB-Pokal win over a lower-league team, and Reyna once again had a front-row seat to it all.
Despite Dortmund leading 4-1 against Phonix Lubeck with most of their key players on the pitch, Reyna remained on the bench. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Julian Brandt, and Karim Adeyemi were the starters while Julian Duranville and Donyell Malen were the substitutes. Dortmund’s attack line is still packed, and even when they are decimating their opponents, Reyna still doesn’t get a chance to play.
The fact that only days remain in the transfer window, not weeks, makes this fact feel even more crucial. Reyna is at a critical juncture in his career where he can’t afford to waste time. Simply being part of one of the world’s biggest clubs no longer suffices. What matters more now is getting actual playing time.
Reyna appeared poised to be Dortmund’s next star for years, seemingly set to join his friends Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham on the path to superstardom.
At least not yet, that hasn’t happened.
What should Reyna do then? He might not be able to control the outcome, but for his benefit, the resolution must involve him playing significant minutes at some point this season. His progress and career largely rely on it.
