Manchester City youngster Vitor Reis has now detailed why the Girona move was the right step… and how Pep Guardiola shaped that decision.
The 19-year-old centre-back spoke to [**EFE**](https://efe.com/cataluna/2025-11-17/vitor-reis-venir-al-girona-no-fue-un-paso-atras/) in Spain and explained that joining the La Liga club was “not a step back”, even after debuting for City last season.
#### Pep’s role in the Girona decision
Reis said his original idea was to stay at Manchester City. However, a direct conversation with Guardiola changed everything.
According to him, Pep was realistic about the situation. The manager praised his leadership at Palmeiras and told him he liked his profile. But he explained that minutes would be difficult with so many established defenders in the squad. That honesty convinced him that Girona was the best route to grow.
The Brazilian added that Savinho encouraged him to make the move. The winger “loves Girona” and told Reis only positive things about the club. The defender now calls the loan “an important step” and insists that La Liga is “a gigantic competition” that will help him develop.
#### From Haaland on PlayStation to the same dressing room
Reis admitted that a year ago he would never have believed he’d be signed by Manchester City, debuted in the Premier League, and then start regularly in La Liga. He described the City call as “a surprise” and said his family celebrated the news at home.
Arriving in Manchester was another surreal moment. He said he kept staring at the names on the dressing room lockers, amazed to be around players he used to use on PlayStation, such as Haaland and Bernardo Silva. He also took photos with Guardiola on his first day in England and said he learned a lot from him.
Reis keeps the shirts from his four appearances for City. He said debuting for the club brought “a lot of happiness”. It strengthened his ambition to return and settle in the team long-term.
#### Strong adaptation at Girona
[**As we have previously covered**](https://sportwitness.co.uk/already-in-the-plans-manchester-city-planning-to-have-la-liga-player-next-season/), Reis has become a key player for Míchel Sánchez, starting the last six matches and ranking fourth in minutes played for the squad. He highlighted that Girona’s difficult start came from many new arrivals, but believes the win over Alavés was “a release of happiness” and a turning point.
Míchel, he said, has a game model similar to Guardiola’s. The coach demands intensity, possession and growth from his players. Their first conversation convinced him that Girona was the right place to continue progressing.
#### Looking ahead with Manchester City
Reis dreams of winning the Champions League or the World Cup one day, but his short-term focus is clear: finish a strong season at Girona.
He even joked that in his PlayStation career mode he plays with Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but also has a Girona save where he has signed his Brazilian friends – and may “try to buy himself” to stay after the loan, even though his real return date is scheduled for 30 June.