- Vitor Reis featured from the start against Real Madrid
- The defender played a key role in a hard-fought draw
- Girona secured an impressive result against the Spanish giants
Vitor Reis started for Girona in their 1-1 draw against Real Madrid, delivering a composed display against elite opposition in a major test of his development.
Man City signed Reis from Palmeiras last season. Following the player’s arrival, he was quickly sent on a loan to Girona for further development.
A fee of around £29.6 million was paid for the player’s services. However, the Sky Blues will be happy to see that their investment is blooming in Spain.
Reis started another league game for Girona yesterday. The Spanish outfit played Real Madrid, drawing 1-1 in what was a controlled display by the Brazilian.
Vitor Reis vs Real Madrid
Reis did not shy away when it came to leading the defence. He made the second most defensive contributions in the whole game [10], only behind fellow teammate Alejandro Frances [11].
The defender made a very important interception in the 13th minute of the game. A through ball by Eder Militao would have found the back of the net if not for Reis’ timely header.
The 20-year-old ranked joint first for tackles [4] alongside teammate Frances. After receiving the ball in the 25th minute, Reis faced a tackle from Vinicius Jr. from behind.
However, instead of losing his composure, the player kept his calm and won the ball back, moving the ball out of danger.
Reis ranked joint-first again for interceptions made [2] alongside teammates Arnau Martinez and Axel Witsel.
A ball-carrying defender
Despite being a defender, the 20-year-old had the most touches on the ball of all his teammates [70]. He was only behind Real Madrid players, Asencio, Camavinga, Vinicius Jr. and Fran Garcia.
The same trend can be seen throughout the season, with a total of 1,917 touches made, ranking in the top 92.6th percentile of centre-backs in La Liga.
Reis also managed a 98 per cent passing accuracy against the second-best team in La Liga. This style neatly fits Guardiola’s preferred profile as the defender also averages 91 per cent accuracy throughout the season.
Will Reis return to Man City next season?
The defender’s loan deal lasts for a season and has no option to buy. Girona is a part of City Football Group’s ventures, and the Spanish club has provided an excellent platform for the youngster.
Reis has made 28 starts and played 29 matches in the La Liga this season. His recent performance against Real Madrid and season-long consistency have been proof of his development.
However, at 20, Reis still has a long way to go considering the competition that awaits him at the Etihad, including the likes of Marc Guehi, Ruben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov. For now, Girona has provided as much as they can to the centre-half.
With no other European venture bigger than the Spanish outfit [except Man City], CFG will probably be looking at another loan deal for the upcoming season.
Either that, or Reis will be allowed to make the switch, but will see limited minutes under the current setup. He can still be a regular for cup games, but a loan deal would allow more development than a call-back.
