Vitor Reis left Manchester City last summer to spend this season on loan at Girona. The loan move to Spain has been perfect for the young Brazilian defender. Vitor Reis has played regularly for Girona, and he has matured and developed as a player this season. That is exactly what City had hoped for when they sent Vitor Reis out on loan. The young Brazilian centre-back is a prototypical modern-day defender. He reads the game exceptionally well, times his challenges superbly, and is good in possession. All of those attributes make Vitor Reis almost the ideal player to slot into a Pep Guardiola side.
Recently, Vitor Reis spoke of his willingness to play in midfield or as a full-back. Looking at the strengths of Vitor Reis’ game, he could be a viable midfield option for Pep Guardiola to utilize at times when the Brazilian defender returns to Manchester City.
Vitor Reis has spoken about his willingness to add more strings to his bow as a player.
In an interview with Trivela, which was relayed and translated by Sport Witness, Vitor Reis has spoken about the versatility that defenders in the Manchester City squad are required to have in their game. He has also shared that he is willing to play in midfield, or at full-back, when he returns to Manchester City after his loan spell at Girona. The young centre-back explained: “It has been a very good evolution for me. It was a great choice to be here (Girona). 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.”
“*At City, centre-backs have to play in more than one position, because [Pep] Guardiola likes that. 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 per cent willing to learn that.*”
Manchester City could have another option to play in midfield in Vitor Reis.
Vitor Reis speaks like a player who knows the path he has to take to be a regular member of the Manchester City first team. He seems to have a firm grasp of what Pep Guardiola demands from his defenders. If Reis can come back to City and be open-minded about playing in different roles, it could make him a valuable member of Pep Guardiola’s squad. Looking at the chances that Reis could play in midfield if required, he has the necessary attributes to play as a midfielder.
Firstly, Vitor Reis is blessed with a good range of passing and passing ability. He can pick out a pass, and as a ball-playing defender, he does shine. That is a valuable string to his bow for a player so young. Reis reads the game well, which is a required skill for a midfielder, especially one in a Pep Guardiola side. Reis is also quick, and he times his challenges well. Although he still has to mature physically, he holds his own in a duel and wins his fair share of them when required. The basic template to play as a midfielder at Manchester City is already in Vitor Reis’ game. He would need to learn the subtleties of playing in midfield, but he could be an option for Pep Guardiola to consider given the raw tools that Vitor Reis possesses.
Vitor Reis has shared his willingness to do what is required to grow as a Manchester City player. There is no reason that, in time, he couldn’t play the role for City that John Stones made his own. The young Brazilian centre-back also has the required tools to do a job in midfield for Pep Guardiola’s team. So, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that we see Vitor Reis step into midfield when he does return to City from Girona. He certainly has the talent to do so.