Groins and hammy. One goes and the other often follows during a recovery program. This kid has already spent such a long time on the bench in recent years. He needs to seek additional advice on a diet/stretching/strength regimen. Such a bummer.
He should take up yoga, which is a full-spectrum regimen in and of itself. Footballers who swore by it included Ryan Giggs, Brad Friedel, CR7, Messi and Tom Brady. Preki took it up at 38, when the 2 days it took to recover from intensive training sessions was making him think long and hard about retiring. He won his second MLS MVP two years later https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3764075/2022/11/06/footballers-yoga-extending-careers-inner-calm/
I wonder how fit he is. 100% speculation on my part but he doesn't give the vibe that he's a gym rat type who works constantly at improving and getting fit. Pulls sometimes can be due to lack of fitness. Perhaps unfair to speculate but that seems like a better alternative to genetic disaster.
It is likely a bit of both. Obviously genetics have something to do with it.... I mean, we all assume he got his athletic gifts from his parents so why not his father's fitness issues? On the other hand... I do think it is fair to question his desire to be as fit as possible. His former coach didn't even choose to start him when he was scoring at an unreal clip off the bench. There has to be a reason for that.... and it might partially be about his work ethic in training. Either way... I am no longer expecting Gio to reach the heights many of us expected. This has just gone on for far too long to be coincidence or bad luck. There is something substantial here. So sad. I certainly hope he comes back and makes me eat my words.
Remember that period where there was still time for Freddy to turn it around? At least we still have about 10 years and 10 worse than before clubs before we can say with confidence it ain't happening. He is still a kid with buckets of skill - but as Freddy proved - it's hard to develop an intense work ethic when you've always gotten by on innate skill. I honestly don't know what to expect - he may not reach the heights we expected - but I won't start really worrying until he's 24/25 if he's still going no where.
Maybe back before the break... 🎙️ Sahin: "Julian Ryerson and Ramy Bensebaini had a bit of a cold, but are now back. Gio Reyna is on the right track. He might be able to play before the international break."— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) September 25, 2024
Gio now out until after the November international break. . . Kid just needs to get healthy and play somewhere, it's not looking good. https://bvbbuzz.com/posts/borussia-dortmund-suffer-triple-injury-blow-in-attack-01j9bftpherw
His club minutes since the end of the 2020/21 season are sobering. That's 3 years, 4 months and counting. Bundesliga: 1333 Premier League: 230 DFB Pokal: 177 Europa League: 44 Champions League: 403 In total, he's played 2186 club minutes in 40+ months (it will be pushing 42 months or 3 years, 6 months if the current timeline for his recovery holds).
This kid needs to find a professional who can help figure out what is going on with his body. There is something in his regiment where he is getting out of balance or something. A kid this young should not have this many soft tissue injuries. Obviously, I have never been anywhere close to a professional athlete, but in high school I would constantly pull my thy muscles and it turned out it was because I was over-working them and not properly working other muscles in my leg. After I addressed that, I never had a problem again.
Yeah... no one can possibly deny it now. Talent means barely ****-all at the pro level if you can't stay healthy. What is perhaps even more concerning to me is that he doesn't explode through quick-twitch pace movements like some players prone to injury.... He also doesn't bring it on D like many other CMs... why on earth can't this guy stay healthy? Heck, he doesn't even play for his club.
I remain convinced that Dortmund's medical staff is incompetent. When I think of the most prominent oft-injured Bundesliga players, they all spent (and missed) significant time there.
This poor kid - it appears he will become one of our big "What ifs." The pain he must be going through with all this, really heartbreaking. At this point, would we really be surprised if we at some point read "Gio Reyna and BvB have mutually agreed to part ways?" Of course, forgive me, I know that happens rarely and player would have to agree to it when contracts are mutually terminated, but am not familiar with that process. Or, if not that, I have no doubt this is his last season in a BvB shirt. I now do not care if he goes back to MLS, Dutch league, wherever he has a chance to shine and get his career back on track. but I am not sure he will ever fully trust his body enough again to put in the bursts or tackles necessary at this level
I think you ironically explained why he can't play healthy - he glides around, then is occasionally compelled to lunge into a challenge, & his muscles weren't built/trained like that. So this may always be a problem. And it probably has already reduced his peak + current level of play. He was better at 18 than he is now.