John Wilson says…
I wrote a few weeks ago about how I was determined to relax and enjoy being in this happy place of promotion, just like a school pupil who’s finished his last exam and has the whole summer ahead, but now I’m in a different happy place and I’m loving the ambition shown by our owners.
It actually makes absolute sense. I was quite relaxed, thinking “If we go down, we’ll get the parachute payments, say ‘thank you very much’ and go again next season”, but it doesn’t always work like that (ask Sheffield United and Luton Town) so seeing the level of signings is a real show of intent.
When there were notions that Anthony Patterson might be being replaced, which might still be the case, at first it was very surprising. However, the more I thought about it, the more I started thinking that at the very least, both he and everyone else needs competition.
Dare I say that you could argue Patto isn’t quite up to Premier League standard? His kicking, command of his box and organisation of the defence still need improvement. I’m not saying he won’t get there, but we need to hit the ground running.
I mention Patto merely because if he’s in the club’s sights to replace, upgrade or be given a challenge, everyone is and Dennis Cirkin is certainly no different.
He hasn’t been the same player since his injury, and at least three times in the playoff final, he tried to shield the ball only to get muscled away. Don’t get me wrong — he’s certainly Premier League standard when he’s on top form but like I said, nearly all of our squad needs serious competition, or we should be looking to step up.
I know nothing about Reinildo and I’ll probably know nothing about all our signings this summer window, so I won’t pretend I know he’s a great player, but I can read his CV, and I can see the standard he’s played at and the standard of player he’s mixed with.
It’s all very uplifting, exciting and positive that we aren’t entering this new era in the hope of merely surviving, but of giving it a real go. Haway the lads!
Atletico Madrid v Barcelona - Copa del Rey Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images
Mark Wood says…
My own thoughts are that it’s a good move for us.
First of all, there’s no fee involved to bring in an experienced player from the Spanish top tier and this will help as we seem to be linked to at least more than a couple of big money signings while also keeping one eye on the PSR restraints.
At thirty one, he should still have at least a couple of more years to give and like any signing we’re bringing in as we step up to Premier League level, we should be looking at upgrades on what we currently have at the club — which brings us onto Dennis Cirkin.
I felt he started off last season really well, offering an attacking threat going forward, making good contributions at corners and being on top of his game defensively. However, when he injured his wrist and was out of action for a while, he returned wearing a protective cast for the rest of the season.
He still did well going forward, but defensively he looked a bit iffy at times. I can remember him being beaten by attackers a few times to put in crucial crosses and then there was the penalty he gave away against Watford when the opposition player was running away from goal. He also nearly gifted a goal to Sheffield United in the playoff final, so defensively he had his moments last season.
Whether it’s just down to some discomfort from the wrist injury, I don’t know. I stress it’s my opinion and I’ve liked him since he arrived when we were in League One, but the Premier League is a world away from the Championship.
He does seem prone to lengthy spells out of the team and if we’re looking at areas to strengthen, the left back position would be one I would choose.
The wages which are being reported to bring Reinildo I think indicates that the club doesn’t see him as cover for Cirkin but as a first choice starter and an upgrade.
Phil West says…
I like the feeling of this signing and it suggests that in the quest for experience, the club is prepared to cast the net as widely as possible in order to bring the right kinds of personalities to the Stadium of Light, as well as providing Régis Le Bris with the kind of depth on which he’ll rely next season.
Before departing as a free agent, Reinildo made over one hundred appearances for Atlético Madrid.
This suggests that not only is he a very capable defender, as you certainly wouldn’t reach that milestone in a Diego Simeone side if you weren’t, but that he was able to handle the pressure of playing for a big club under one of world football’s most intense managers.
This should serve both himself and Sunderland very well for 2025/2026, as we’ll doubtless go through some tough times and this is where we’ll need players whose heads won’t drop and can ensure their younger teammates remain focused and don’t allow themselves to become downhearted when results go against us.
Another key box that he would appear to tick is marked ‘athleticism’, which is something we need to add plenty of this summer.
I recently saw a video clip on social media of Reinildo making a storming, length-of-the-field run in order to make a key tackle when playing for Madrid and this was also encouraging, as rapid attackers are commonplace in the Premier League and we’ll need players who can deal with them.
The final potential upside of this signing is that it could give Dennis Cirkin some real competition and force him to raise his game accordingly.
I like Cirkin a lot and I do believe he could establish himself as a Premier League left back, but he’s not the most physically robust player in the ranks and having two talented players vying for a position is no bad thing.
There’s a lot to be gained from this one — and the fact it’s set to take place as a free transfer reduces the risk even further.
Atletico de Madrid v FC Barcelona - Copa del Rey Photo by Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images