I haven’t seen that many Gio to MLS predictions the past few windows. Maybe a few, which look more likely than the occasional “Gio to Real Madrid” prediction I also saw before that.
I thought there was a good chance of it over the summer. I think there may be a better chance next summer - he clearly isn’t increasing his value, and if he does well at the World Cup, it would be a splashy signing.
He has to demonstrate that he can play soccer and stay healthy at the same time. This is trending in a very bad direction.
Agreed. And too many on here can't or won't see that. I don't know why the MLS projection seems to frustrate some. I'd imagine there is a pretty good shot of that happening soon, unless he gets healthy and has a stellar couple of months to wind down the season and make the WC roster. And MLS may be best for him and allow him to play consistently and stay in that USMNT orbit. I think we all admire his talent and the potential, and No one is rooting for his downfall. But I am just saying that right now he seems closer to a Nick Tatigue or Freddy Adu arc than a return to the 2022 BvB Gio.
There are a few problems with Gio returning stateside. - MLS has a salary cap. Spending money on a frequently injured players doesn't make much sense. If Gio wants a lot of money, I just don't see it. If Gio will take a haircut just to finally play? Maybe. - If Gio isn't durable in Europe, he's not going to be durable in MLS - Landing spots. There are a number of teams likely not wanting to deal with the Reyna family. Chicago/Gregg, San Jose/Bruce, NYCFC/Claudio, Austin/Claudio. Would BJ want him in Nashville? Or Mikey in San Jose? Is Gio going to play on teams with a turf field? Probably not. It could happen. But I am not sure there are going to be a lot of teams that are willing to use a lot of cap space on a player who has been injured for most of the past four years.
If he can't handle the physicality of BL1, how is he going to manage MLS? And that's before you factor in the travel, which filled with UEFA-type distances only you fly coach rather than charter or business class. It's hard to see an MLS side signing him for anything other than marketing reasons. Do they give part-time contracts: cup finals and internationals?
James Rodriguez just signed a half-season deal with Minnesota an hour ago so the answer seems to be yes.
I think it's over for him. His body just isn't capable. He's battled injuries for what, going on 4 straight seasons? The best indication of future injury is prior injury.
FC Dallas could bring him in to replace Pomykal. They need someone with that skill that has constant injury problems.
There were so many questions about why he wasn’t getting more playing time at Dortmund. Attitude? Energy? Training intensity? Injuries? For me, his story is becoming more clear. I’m convinced he hasn’t been 100% healthy at any point in the past 5 years. And as a result this has influenced all these other issues (intensity, attitude etc). It is really looking like his body just won’t adapt to top level pro soccer. It seems to be Occam's razor at this point: not being 100% physically capable is the root of it. IMHO comparing him to Adu is ridiculous. It seems O’Brien is more apt. Can he still ‘grow out of it’ or find an intensity that is good enough but doesn’t destroy his body? I hope so. His talent, vision and skill are at such incredible levels. He is a natural, so smooth and gifted. It is a genuine tragedy how these past 5 years have gone.
I agree with this. His body doesn't hold up at this level, and I'm sure he knows it. Based on what I see, I'd speculate that he has been injured so much with soft tissue injuries, that maybe his mind won't let him physically compete at 100%. His skillset was never going to be that of the endless motor type, or a burner, but I'd argue that in his short career prior to the injuries, he was adequate. There could be truth to then idea that he does not grind in training. Maybe it's his nature, or maybe again, he is gun shy after so many injuries. The optics have always appeared to me like he is a competitive personality and cares deeply about playing. It's pretty much all speculation though. Nobody that is posting on this forum knows for sure one way or the other what the full story is. Personally, I think his club career is cooked. I also hold out hope, but it's hard to see it happening for him. As a USMNT team fan first and foremost, fingers crossed that the stars align and he can continue to compete there, as he more often than not, comes to play for the Nats. When available and healthy, Gio Reyna been a very impactful player over his career, and he has had some big moments in the shirt. The comps to Adu are bonkers IMO.
I agree with your post, been saying that for awhile. Everything so far/Occams razor points to his body not holding up, like you said. and seems to me that he and his team just trying to string things out as long as possible. as for me mentioning Adu, I said we may be closer to that than we like to think. He’s not there yet, BUT, if he jumps around to smaller and smaller European clubs to prolong things, riding on a wave of past feats from 4 years ago, the Adu comparison is apt. I’m not comparing their level (Gio is/was better), I’m comparing the jouney arc. but of course I think his story is closer to O’Brien and Tatigue (he has achieved much more than Tatigue tho). someday all the truth/behind the scenes stuff will Come out. I miss people like Grant Wahl, who would Probably have some real details for us about things like this .
I thought he did. I thought he spent months in Austin with someone awhile back trying to figure it all out. I can assure you that he and his crew have played those cards
His Dad would come to rehab in the US with the USMNT trainer when he was with, I think, Man City. Anyway, I also suspect alternative physical therapies/rehab have been looked at/explored/used, etc.
His dad was plagued with perennial muscle injuries. This might be a genetic thing. Also, coming to MLS would not be easier on his body.
Correct, It will not. I’m just saying he will get his possible “last” shot in that league because of name recognition/connections. I did not say he will thrive there.
Hmmm. I assume by saying Adams is a whole lot better than Gattuso you mean right now. Yes, I can agree with that. However, if you meant like to like, there's a bit of an issue. Gattuso was the 27th most valuable midfielder (all midfielders) of his generation at the same age. Adams is the 167th most valuable midfidler at this time. Gattuso earlier and eventually again was in the top 20. Adams, not so much yet but we can hope. He will need to impress a bit more than Tonali and Tchouameni in the coming couple years.Be great if he did.
His only option is the Eredivisie or Portugal, and even then it's hard to see that happening unless he's on a free transfer.
Apart from Juve, I don't follow Italian footy much and even then rather haphazardly, but if both you and @usnroach say I'm way off base, then I'll have to stand corrected. My perceptio0n of him is probably coloured by his time at Rangers, his endless OTT confrontations and his pretty poor coaching record Anyone got a woodshed for sale?
Even on a free, the level of club in those leagues that would take a flyer on a player that might never play more than 5% of minutes would be low. And those clubs won't pay much of a salary for such a player. MLS clubs will be averse to said player as well, but would probably still pay more than whichever clubs in Portugal or the Netherlands might be in the market. From Gio's perspective, I think he'd also have a much better chance at getting fit and healthy with pretty much any MLS club than the low-end clubs in those two countries. The facilities and training/medical staff at ANY MLS club are likely to be better than any of those prospective Dutch and Portuguese clubs.
Post match report from Gladbach has a little extra information on Reyna on missing the match. "....Gio Reyna (illness and muscular problems) remained unavailable. Tim Kleindienst, Robin Hack and Nathan Ngoumou are continuing their scheduled rehabilitation programmes following injury." https://www.borussia.com/news/match-report-bmgb04-2526 An optimistic view might be he was close to return but got sick. Pessimistic view might be "what's next?" What would Gattuso do?
Right now SKC has a total of 20 players on their roster, four are keepers, I think four are teens. Maybe five are starting quality. they'd take him, I think (I think they might take anyone right now). Now, while SKC may be a disaster or a roster, the facilities are really top class and they've done a decent job with rehabs in the past.
Rapha Wicky coached Gio with the U.S. U-17 team and it was an absolute disaster. Wicky won't want to deal with Gio or Claudio again.