Vitor Reis is back at Manchester City, and if preseason goes to plan, the young centre-back is looking at a serious shot at a first-team role this season. After arriving from Palmeiras in January 2025 and spending six months around the squad, Reis was shipped off to Girona last season. Now, he’s returned to fight for a spot on the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders.
From La Liga Loan to City Contender
Reis’s time playing in La Liga was definitely well spent. The kid seems absolutely ready to compete for real minutes. He recently opened up to ESPN Brasil about the lessons he’s picked up during this crucial development period. He learned a ton from his brief first spell at City, specifically shouting out Rúben Dias for encouragement and Haaland for being one of the best strikers on the planet. Reis isn’t shy about saying City has an “excellent squad and excellent players,” and he definitely took notes from those guys.
Relegation Couldn’t Stop the Rise
Last season, the hope was Reis would establish himself as a first-team regular at Girona, and that’s exactly what he did. He was one of their best performing players, even in a season that tragically saw Girona relegated. Reis explained that playing regularly in La Liga made a massive difference. He said, “Playing in La Liga helped a lot because I managed to have a good run of games in a very strong and competitive league.” Facing off against absolute studs like Vini Jr, Yamal, Mbappé, and Bellingham demands total focus, and that experience gave him a “huge improvement” as an overall player. His composure in possession and ability to drive Girona’s build-up play really stood out. Plus, he can break lines with his passing, and his decision-making is next-level for a centre-back. Girona played a high defensive line under Michel, which let Reis show off his elite anticipation and ability to read the game instead of just lunging into tackles. That’s pure intelligence on the pitch.
There is zero reason why Vitor Reis can’t lock down a spot in Enzo Maresca’s squad. He’s returned to Manchester City as a more experienced and rounded defender, ready to compete for a role in the 2026-27 season. Keep an eye on him in preseason; the kid is coming in hot.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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