USMNT: Borussia Dortmund ideal for Gio Reyna

Gio Reyna was handed another substitute appearance in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Borussia Dortmund continue to prove they are the ideal club for the USMNT prospect.

Choosing the right club is vital for young players as they embark on their professional careers. Getting stuck at the wrong team can set players back years as they sit in the reserves, waiting for consistent first-team minutes that are never going to come their way.

When Erling Haaland had the world at his feet in January, every top club in European football desperate for his signature, he chose Borussia Dortmund. His agent, Mino Raiola, later explained that he and his client made that decision because they were concerned about Haaland’s playing time at certain clubs, namely Manchester United.

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Jadon Sancho also chose Dortmund over remaining at Manchester City. He has since developed into one of the best young offensive talents in world football, starting regularly and topping the Bundesliga in non-penalty goals and assists per 90 minutes. He has been elite, because he has been allowed to be.

Sancho made the controversial and unusual decision to leave England move to Germany because he saw his career developing further there. Speaking to FourFourTwo, he said:

"“It speaks for itself. Youngsters get opportunities. You’ve got to thank Dortmund, because it’s unheard of for a team that gets 80,000 at every home game to put so much faith in youngsters.”"

Sancho and Haaland are just some of the young players who have benefitted from playing at Dortmund. Nuri Sahin is still the youngest-ever player in the Bundesliga when he was still 16, Mario Gotze, Mats Hummels, Robert Lewandowski, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ousmane Dembele and Christian Pulisic have all reached their respective levels because of the opportunities they were handed at Dortmund to grow and develop at a young age.

And now you can add U.S. Men’s National Team prospect, Gio Reyna, to the mix, too.

Reyna is very much following in the footsteps of Pulisic. Both started to make waves in the first team at 17, moved over from the States with the hope of breaking into a top-five European league, plenty of hopes and expectations on their shoulders, for club and the USMNT.

Based on his recent usage, Reyna, like those who have gone before him, is in the perfect place to further his development. On Saturday, he was again introduced from off the bench in Dortmund’s 1-0 win over Hertha Berlin. This is his fourth substitute appearance in succession. He has now made 12 league appearances on the season, all from off the bench, and even made the starting XI upon the Bundesliga’s restart, only to suffer an injury in the warm-up.

Such consistent usage at such a young age is brilliant for Reyna. It shows that Dortmund think highly of him. It is the ideal setting for which he can develop. This is the launchpad for the rest of his career, and based on his performances thus far — he again looked bright here, enjoying several excellent moments, wriggling free of defenders and shielding the ball — it is the perfect foundation to build on.

Crucially for Reyna, he is at the perfect club to set up the rest of his career. Now, he simply has to work hard and deliver on his outrageous ability.