U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter said his relationship with Gio Reyna is “moving forward” Friday ahead of the squad’s friendlies against Germany and Ghana. Here’s what you need to know:
- Reyna, 20, is back with the team for the first time since suffering a leg fracture in the CONCACAF Nations League final against Canada in June. He is also reunited with Berhalter for the first time since their relationship came under the microscope after the 2022 World Cup.
- Berhalter added Friday that he “really (doesn’t) want to talk too much about the past” and Reyna has looked “really sharp, really strong” in training camp.
- The coach also said he wasn’t sure what position Reyna would play during the friendlies due to midfielder Tyler Adams’ absence, and that the USMNT wants to return him to Borussia Dortmund “in a good spot to continue this development.”
- Reyna has made just one substitute appearance for Dortmund this season, playing 27 minutes.
Backstory
Berhalter said earlier this month he and Reyna spoke over Zoom “weeks ago” and called it a “positive conversation.”
The World Cup issues began with Reyna’s behavior at the tournament in Qatar and Berhalter alluding to those problems during comments at a leadership conference, albeit without mentioning Reyna by name. That eventually led to Reyna’s parents, U.S. Soccer veterans Claudio and Danielle Reyna, providing information to then-U.S. Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart about an incident 30 years ago in which Berhalter kicked his then-girlfriend, now-wife when they were freshmen at the University of North Carolina. That prompted an investigation into Berhalter that stretched for months.
Berhalter was cleared for employment at U.S. Soccer in March and eventually re-hired as manager of the national team in June.
Required reading
- Gregg Berhalter reveals ‘positive conversation’ with Gio Reyna ahead of USMNT reunion
- Why the USMNT plays Germany now, but faces challenges finding future opponents
(Photo: John Dorton / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
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