US coach Gregg Berhalter praises Gio Reyna ahead of international debut

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    Borussia Dortmund midfielder, Gio Reyna has continued his rich vein of form for the BVB by scoring against Rheindorf Altach, Austria Vienna, and Duisburg for Borussia Dortmund in pre-season.

    Reyna is aiming higher ahead of the new season after breaking into the senior team last season. The American teenager has matched his words with action by lighting up the pre-season with Borussia Dortmund, scoring four goals across his three games.

    Reyna was involved in 15 Bundesliga games in 2019/20, starting two of those. He has continued to show promises for the BVB. He will definitely be an important member of the squad that could help push Bayern Munich this time around in the battle for the Bundesliga.

    Gio Reyna (c.) has already powered his way to 31 youth international caps with the USA, scoring 16 goals in the process. – imago images / ZUMA Press

    Reyna, who is the son of former US internationals Danielle Egan and Claudio Reyna, scored a stunning goal for Borussia Dortmund against Werder Bremen in the DFB Cup. He also assisted Erling Haaland for the BVB to beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 in February.

    Gio Reyna is a lad with great mentality

    With a full USA debut just around the corner for the 17-year-old, the coach of the US national team, Gregg Berhalter is singing his praises.

    The tactician thinks the young attacker is ready to progress for club and country in the coming season.

    “Reyna has a great mentality. He’s still a teenager but plays like an old hand. He has this hunger to always win everything and wants to improve in every training session.

    “You could see this professional attitude in him as a teenager. At BVB he now has a great chance of starting a great career, and I’m sure he’ll make the most of it. What he shows in Dortmund is fantastic,” the former Energie Cottbus and 1860 Munich defender explained to SportBild.

    Gio Reyna is becoming increasingly important at Borussia Dortmund

    Having scored eight goals during his 18 appearances at the U17 level with the USA, Reyna was set to bypass the U20s and U23s in March with a call up to the senior squad, until global events got in the way.

    “Gio hasn’t yet played a senior international match because our friendlies with Holland and Wales in March were canceled due to the corona pandemic. He’ll get a chance in our next game, that’s very clear,” explained Berhalter.

    The US won’t be involved in the international break as they have no scheduled fixture yet. So, Reyna is part of those who stayed back at the Signal Iduna Park. He could be in action again next Monday when Dortmund will conclude their pre-season friendlies against Sparta Rotterdam.

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