'Star in the making' - What is Man City's plan for forgotten man Reis?

Manchester City reporterPublished20 minutes ago1 CommentsManchester City continue to await the arrival of their new manager but forgotten defender Vitor Reis will be back in the building following his season-long loan spell in La Liga.

The Brazilian spent the 2025-26 campaign at City's sister club Girona and though they were agonisingly relegated on the final day of the season, the 20-year-old grew into one of their standout performers.

City's backline conceded the second fewest goals in the Premier League last season (35), behind only champions Arsenal (27), and though they are already well-stocked in defence, they will be further boosted by Reis' return.

The anticipated hiring of Enzo Maresca to replace the now-departed Pep Guardiola drags on, but the ex-Chelsea manager will take charge of a team that will require only minor tweaks rather than a major overhaul.

It means players such as Reis will be given fresh starts and the centre-back is expected to join City's depleted contingent for their pre-season tour of Hong Kong towards the end of July, with the 16 players taking part in the World Cup afforded time off when their participation at the tournament concludes.

Reports in Spain, external claim Barcelona are interested in a move for Reis after impressing at nearby Girona, but sources have dismissed those links as "pure speculation" so the plan - as it stands - is for the player to be an option next season.

But after his year in Spain, is he ready to make the step up to the Premier League?

"If he plays for Manchester City next season, he has already faced the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and was outstanding," Girona commentator Miquel Agut Riera tells BBC Sport.

"He has everything to become an important player in a top squad. We are talking about a star in the making.

"He is a very good prospect and will become a top centre-back in the near future."

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It was the same month in which they brought in Abdukodir Khusanov and while the Uzbekistan international has established himself as a first-team regular, Reis has managed only four games and was sent out on loan to gain more experience.

His time at Girona did not start particularly well, sent off in only his fifth game against Levante in September and he had to adapt to a new country, new team-mates and find consistency in his performances.

But Riera says he improved game by game and things clicked by the end of November and by the end of the season, he was one of the players who manager Michel "could rely on".

"He improved a lot in physical terms," Riera added. "In the beginning he was not that consistent in the duels and that is what people told me before he arrived - he was skillful but not that strong.

"He became stronger in the duels and Girona played very offensive football so there were wide spaces in behind him, but he was always able to run quickly backwards towards his own goal as well as forwards.

"Once he became a physical player, he was almost unbeatable. He was one of the best defenders we have had at Girona in the past few seasons."

Despite boasting a squad containing household names Donny van de Beek, Daley Blind, Axel Witsel, Thomas Lemar and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Girona won only nine of their 38 league games and were relegated by a solitary point.

Reis will be given the opportunity to make an impression on City's trip to the Far East next month as he aims to nail down a first-team spot, but may still end up going out on loan again should the current plan not work out.

"If Girona stayed up in La Liga, many fans will have hoped he could have spend a second season on-loan at the club," Riera added. "After relegation, that is not possible."

Despite the departure of John Stones, youngster Reis still has a tough task of breaking into the first-team and will be keen to play as many minutes as possible, which he managed at Girona last term.

City currently have five players that are nailed-on to be selected at centre-back, including Khusanov and January acquisition Marc Guehi - those two are highly unlikely to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Neither will Josko Gvardiol - the 24-year-old has agreed a new deal until 2031, highlighting how admired he is by the City hierarchy.

The Croatia international extended his stay at Etihad Stadium, but BBC Sport has been told there was "serious interest" from European heavyweights Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

City, though, always seem to move players on at the right time so could Ruben Dias become the latest name in that list?

While he is undoubtedly a valuable player, the 29-year-old has been heavily linked, external with a move to Real Madrid, where Portuguese compatriot Jose Mourinho has just taken charge.

Experienced Netherlands centre-back Nathan Ake is another option but he too has been linked, external with a move away and the 31-year-old could be sold if he asked to leave and the right offer came in.

Meanwhile, City have agreed a deal to sign highly-rated teenage defender Hermann Malonga from Champions League winners Paris St-Germain on a free transfer, further adding to competition for Reis, but the Frenchman will link up with the development side.

Whatever Maresca and sporting director Hugo Viana decide, Reis needs to fully grasp his opportunity this pre-season.