The fact that Vitor Reis appeared in the World Cup Club this summer was predicted, but the star's performance in the match against Wydad AC confirmed the reason why Man City yearns to recruit him so in January.
Man City spent £ 29.6 million to recruit 19 -year -old center -backs from Palmeiras, and while the Brazilian team initially hoped that Reis would continue to stay to attend the tournament in the US, Man City wanted him immediately.
After a slow starting at Etihad, this young player is starting to show why there is so much expectation in his talent. Although once slipped against Wydad in the match in Philadelphia, in general, Reis defended firmly and showed the ability to play excellent.
It was only his third kick for the first man and the fourth time to play in all competitions. Earlier, he had a 45 -minute debut before Leyton Orient before being replaced in the second half, a full kick against Plymouth, and a few minutes on the pitch from the bench against Leicester in the Premier League.
Reis's problem is fierce competition. He was contracted in January as a player for the future, but had an early opportunity to play due to the crisis of injury in Man City's defense – something rarely ended. However, at present, all the central defenders of Pep Guardiola have returned and ready to play in the US.
Ruben Dias and Josko GVardiol will most likely be the main kicking center -back, but besides that, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and John Stones are ready to be prepared. Abdukodir Khusanov, a £ 33.5 million contract, was also signed in January, still ranked on Reis in PEP's choice order.
That means young Brazilian young stars can only be the 7th choice in the center -back position, a clear situation that is meaningless for a player who needs to be played for development. A source from Brazil has recently said that Man City is currently considering keeping Reis again next season, instead of letting him leave on a borrowed form.
This is a approach that Guardiola often applies to the best young talents: He believes that they will benefit from the high -class training environment and the opportunity to access the first team's tactical system, even if the play time is not much as if it is loan.
However, there are also many big European clubs interested in Reis, and the loan for the 19 -year -old center -back has the opportunity to kick more often is still a feasible plan, if he is still too deep in the list of central defenders at Etihad.
This may depend on the future of other central defenders. Dias and GVARDIOL firmly stay. Khusanov made an impression after coming to Man City in January, despite his sharp drop in the last season last season, with never going to play in the Premier League since mid -March and was eliminated from the list of competition in 5/9 last match.
Ake, Akanji and especially Stones are the names that are likely to be considered for the highest push. Akanji is currently 29 years old, Ake 30 has Stones 31. One of them can be liquidated this summer.
Stones may be the most damaged person. He played excellently 2 years ago, but went through two consecutive seasons of injury and lost the position of the main defender. The former Everton star has not played a minute since having to leave the field early at the Bernabeu on February 19, and the way Guardiola used England at the World Cup Club will be very noticeable.
Man City's decision with Reis is likely to depend on the future of Stones, and maybe both Ake and Akanji. Obviously, a generation transferred in Guardiola's squad, and if Reis continues to show well, he can help the coach are confident to break up with a few veteran center -backs this summer.
