Manchester City remain closely linked to Vitor Reis’ development this season, even while the defender builds his minutes away from England. At Girona, he has become a regular in LaLiga while keeping one eye firmly on his future at the Etihad.
Now in an extensive interview with Brazilian outlet Trivela, Vitor Reis explained that a return to Manchester City is not on his mind right now. The focus, as he said before, remains on Girona and on daily improvement. The loan, in his view, plays a key role in his long-term pathway.
Guardiola’s role in the loan decision
“The first conversation about this was with Hugo Viana,” Vitor Reis said. “He explained that this was their idea, and I also gave my point of view. Soon after, I had a phone meeting with Pep. He was very honest and direct, and said that the best thing for me would be to go to Girona to get more minutes, gain experience and evolve, especially at my age.”
The Brazilian defender admitted Guardiola’s clarity played a decisive role in the move. “I felt a lot of truth in his words and accepted the proposal,” he added.
Staying connected to Manchester City
Although “100% focused” on Girona, Vitor Reis continues to follow Manchester City closely from Spain. The club eased the loan through Girona’s place within the City Football Group structure. Advice from Savinho also helped. The winger had previously made the same move before joining City.
“Since the rumours started, Savinho and I spoke every day,” Vitor Reis explained. “He told me about Girona. When I arrived, I already knew where I was going to live, where the training ground was, where we ate. Everything was kind of planned, because he told me about everything here. That helped me a lot with the choice.”
From Girona, Vitor Reis even watched City’s 1-1 draw with Brighton. That match saw Max Alleyne make his Premier League debut after a recall from Watford. Despite City briefly having only two fit centre-backs, Guardiola chose not to bring the Brazilian back early.
“I believe he is happy with the players he has, and I am also very happy in Girona,” Vitor Reis said.
Future plans and City as the reference point
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Madrid, Spain – October 31, 2025: League match between Getafe FC and Girona FC played in Madrid. Girona players during the match. EA Sports League.
Looking ahead, Manchester City remain the clear reference point for his next decision. No final call has been made yet. “At the end of the season, if it is not the case to return to City, I’ll sit down with my agents and my family and again do what I did before – try to find the best place for me at that moment,” he explained.
Girona’s style under Michel has played a central role in the defender’s progress. It also mirrors much of what he experienced in England. “The choice to go to Girona was very much because of this idea of learning how Manchester City play,” he said. “They are different coaches, because they are different people, but they have a similar idea. That also affected my choice. This will help me in the future, when I return to City.”
So far, the loan has delivered what Manchester City hoped for. Vitor Reis has already made 18 LaLiga appearances. He has earned praise from supporters and logged the most minutes of any under-20 player in the competition.
“It has been a very good evolution for me,” he said. “It was a great choice to be here. I am getting minutes and improving a lot, without a doubt. I believe I can already see evolution in my whole game, both with and without the ball.”
Versatility and long-term development
Versatility could also shape his future under Guardiola. “At City, centre-backs have to play in more than one position, because Guardiola likes that,” Vitor Reis explained. “He uses centre-backs as full-backs and even as midfielders. I am very open to learning. If I have to play as a midfielder or as a full-back, I will be 100% willing to learn that.”
For now, Manchester City continue to watch from a distance while their young defender grows in Spain. The loan is doing exactly what it was designed to do. Discussions about his return will come later.